The market continues to increase and change. 20 years ago, Zidane was like 50M GBP and that was unheard of to spend on a single player. Now that gets you a banged up Keita that plays 3 months out of the year. If you want to compete, you have to invest in talent. Talent isn't everything (ask PSG, Man City in the CL), you still need culture, coaching, tactics, etc but no team has ever won without talent.
Bellingham is set to be a generational player. Watching him play at Dortmund and when he gets a chance with the national team, he is so acutely aware of space, he has a great touch, wonderful passing range, and can control the game. He plays like he's 26, 28. Breaking the club record at 100M GBP for a player who can be our Gerrard for the next dozen or so years is well worth the investment.
When we bought VvD, we could have bought three CBs for that price (at that time). Likewise with Alisson. He was the most expensive GK of all time when we signed him (Chelsea paid more for Kepa like 3 days later). We could have bought an entire back line for that price. But those two players revolutionized our defence. Made us solid at the back and we weren't as vulnerable to counter attacks and could press higher up the pitch with a higher line.
I have said this with KdB, VvD in recent times, you could even see it with Haaland at Salzburg. These are generational players that don't come around often. Make the plunge or risk falling further back in the race where top 4 is about as good as it gets (which is sadly what this season is shaping out to be).
-FTA c/o 2013
