Former Newcastle United defender Philippe Albert has described the £100m fee Tottenham paid for Sandro Tonali as "crazy", insisting the midfielder is an "average" player and that modern transfer values have become over-inflated.
Albert, who spent five years at St James' Park and became a cult hero during the Kevin Keegan era, also claimed that several of his former team-mates from that period would command fees of £150m to £200m in today's market.
Concern Over Summer Sales
Albert voiced concerns about Newcastle's transfer strategy following a summer in which the club sold three big-name players, including Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes, to comply with strict financial rules. He does not believe the club have brought in better replacements at this stage.
However, he acknowledged that when Tottenham arrived with an offer of more than €100m for Tonali, Newcastle could not turn it down.
"The biggest concern for Newcastle at the moment is after winning some silverware, they are beginning to sell their best players," Albert told Flashscore.
"If you sell your best players, you have to buy even better players. That's not the case."
"But I can understand the owners when a club like Tottenham arrives and gives more than €100m for Tonali, it's impossible to keep him."
"Too Much Money for Average Players"
Albert criticised the level of spending across the Premier League, saying the game has become inflated in recent years.
"It's far too much money for a player like him. That's crazy. Football is crazy over the last few years. Not just around the world, but in England especially. There's so much money for average players," he added.
He then compared the modern market to the era he played in, naming a host of stars from the 1990s who he believes would now be worth significantly more than the sums paid for Tonali.
"If Giggs, Keane, Beckham, Cantona, Scholes, Ginola, Rob Lee, Alan Shearer, Tino Asprilla, Peter Beardsley, John Barnes, Ian Rush, Kenny Dalglish and Kevin Keegan were playing now, it's not £100m for them, it's £150m or £200m," he said.
Shearer's Fee "Peanuts"
Albert singled out Alan Shearer, who joined Newcastle for £15m under Keegan, as an example of how values have changed.
"Of course, it's a joke. Shearer, when he signed for Newcastle, Kevin paid £15m for him. And it's peanuts," he said.
"It's peanuts because he was the best striker in the world by the time. At least one of the best strikers in the world, and Kevin was right to go and take him."
