Jod sent us the following:
I was interested in comments that Kylian Mbappe viewed a transfer to Arsenal as a stepping stone to Madrid or Barcelona. I can remember similar comments from Luca Modric when we signed him.
The fantasists will pretend it won't happen with us if we sign these top class players. The optimists will argue that it doesn't matter, the player will be around long enough to win the club something and then there will be a killing on the transfer fee when he goes. However I'm not sure it often works like that.
Modric did play four seasons for us but only because we dug our heels in when Chelsea tried to buy him - the bad feeling that left didn't help. Otherwise he would have gone sooner. So how would Poch like working with very talented players but only short term before they move on to richer clubs ?
Somehow I doubt he would like it at all, it just doesn't fit his philosophy. Pochettino has been building his squad for three seasons now and I doubt that he regards it as anywhere near the final product. His whole approach is about working long term to improve those players he thinks are up to the job and get them playing the way he wants them to play, hence so many being signed on long contracts.
It looks like Walker may actually be sold, but only with great reluctance and at an extortionate fee. It’s not something we want to do. In the end though the power isn't with the buying club or the selling club, it’s with the player. If Walker is determined to leave all Levy can do is make sure we get full value for him.
It does highlight a problem with trying to buy success when you don't have the deepest pockets. With three clubs just in the Premier League spending more on wages last season than our entire income someone can always make a better offer. If a player just regards you as a stepping stone when he arrives he won't stay long. Unless of course he turns out to be a failure in which case you won't be able to get rid of him.
