Some big clubs suffering after 'arrogant' approach to the transfer market

Martin Macdonald

• 15 Nov 2025 07:01 CST
• 4 min read

Nieuws

There is indeed the possibility that elite clubs in the Premier League may be suffering due to a perceived "arrogance" in the transfer market.

With the transfer market always being so competitive, non-elite sides around Europe and in the Premier League are forced to be creative with their recruitment.

The hope is that these clubs will buy players for a lower fee, improve them and then sell them on to a bigger club for an inflated price.

Teams such as Brighton and Brentford have become Premier League regulars over the last 10 years sticking to that model.

In an interview with the Athletic's David Ornstein, Brentford CEO Jon Varney discussed how some sides need to perhaps stop targeting only A-list ready made players.

"That question of why it's difficult for a big club to 'do a Brentford' as people, you know, you might call it," Varney began.

"It's something there about corporate ego perhaps, or the fan ego. They won't allow that. Process to happen because it, it requires buying players at one price point and moving them on and possibly selling them at a much higher price point that isn't in the DNA of a big club. 'cause they don't want to think of themselves in that way.

"That, that feels like there is, it's less to do a technical problem in terms of, ransacking Jon's playbook."

Ornstein replied:

"Without disrespecting them. There's definitely some ego at certain clubs. In the past, I've felt there's a recruitment arrogance where they feel they are only able to shop in the biggest market because their fans expect the marquee signings.

"And you can look at some of the clubs and make your own judgements who I might be talking about. Um, but it's. A kind of galactico mentality , and some of them are coming to be bitten on the backside with that, um, because it doesn't really wash anymore."

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