The arguments for us taking so long on transfers are based around us going for established players at high cost - this is a departure from our usual approach.
Our transfer record since we abandonned the DoF set up is quite patchy and our record on players from abroad is quite poor, with Son being the only real success and he was a target from the DoF days
Yes and no.
The argument currently revolves more around players of sufficient quality to improve us being expensive, established or not. Particularly in the current market.
Its easier to find "A Mahrez" when you are Leicester than when you have half an eye on the title. And remember - Mahrez's improvement came as a surprise to everyone, he wasnt anywhere near as good as now when they signed him.
We are in competition with Liverpool, Man Utd etc for players - but are no competition when it comes to finances.
While I would absolutely love to grab another Mahrez out of nowhere, I have to ask - what are the chances?
When was the last time top teams even managed that?
It goes to Pochs comments on youth, as the team improves the chances of youth coming in diminish, they have to be much better to break through. Id suggest a similar line of thought to taking punts on the like of NDombele.
Think about him - even now, from Lyon - he is something of a gamble. Clearly talented, but clearly raw - I dont know we can expect an immediate impact from him. Would there have been value in us looking at him a year ago, when he would have had less chance to play and develop? And been even more raw and inexperienced?
And theres the connundrum. Im all for bringing in and developing talent, but Im also of the opinion its needle-in-haystack stuff to find players that can come in and make immediate contributions, or even in the short-mid term, out of nowhere.
Im beginning to understand why the like of Utd would happily let talent move to mid table to play at a higher level and develop before picking them up, even if it does cost more.
To be clear - Im not arguing we shouldnt look at improving our scouting - it would be great to know we are not missing out on players. I just dont know that it will have the impact you seem to think. I think the team is such that the whole developing youth angle will take less precedence.