It is an interesting point. Stuttgart, who i think finished 2nd last season record signing is about £25m (centre forward) and quickly drops off after that. Better scouting? Not sure where they would finish in premier league but would surely do okHow do teams in Germany, France, Italy and Spain do it? +90% of those leagues are not spending £30m on players like Gruda and would be a match to most PL teams outside our despotic overlord clubs on the pitch. What's the transfer record for a German club which isn't Bayern (or maybe BvB)?
PL teams are - often willingly it seems - getting fleeced because many can afford to, which inflates the market for players heading to these shores. I'm surprised we haven't been sniffing around the Dutch and Austrian leagues again.