I would rather get a player in for a cheaper price as there is less expectation. Lovern and Cork prime examples, when a player comes in with a big price tag they come with the expectation and we expect so much more i.e. Gaston and Mr Depp alot of the time they just don't deliever.
Same with Torres for Chelsea and Mata for United. Big tags and lots expected.
Lovren cost about £2m less than Gaston, I'm not sure there's a real distinction to be made there? Osvaldo's failure to deliver was more off-pitch than on, and either way him and particularly Gaston have worked out better than the likes De Ridder, Mayuka, Forren, Gazzaniga, Tadanari Lee etc. You have to pay high transfer fees because otherwise, odds are you'll just sign a bunch of not good enough players. I'd much rather see us bring a mixture of the two in - a few cheaper options with one or two 8 figure players - than just go all in on mediocre, unwanted players hoping they find form here.