When it comes to big spending, not many in Europe can compete with the Big Six – but great wealth can make great clubs complacent and cause them to miss targets hiding in plain sight.
Aston Villa had been tracking Moussa Diaby for two years before they made their move this summer.
As they negotiated to sign the Bayer Leverkusen attacker, Villa were puzzled that their only serious competition was from Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr – and Diaby never wanted to go there.
At £45million, Diaby was an excellent deal.