Jose Mourinho has lauded Manchester United's "clever" work in the transfer window after landing key targets before Neymar's eye-watering switch to Paris Saint-Germain transformed the market.
The United boss believes the Brazilian's world-record move from Barcelona drove up prices across the board, meaning it paid dividends to get business done early.
By the time that £198million deal had been completed, Mourinho had already signed the likes of Romelu Lukaku (£75m) and Nemanja Matic (£40m) – players he claims would have cost a lot more later in the window.
"I think we were very clever," the Portuguese told The Times.
"Normally the last part of the market is less expensive, but this season, after Neymar, everything changed – and changed for the worse in terms of prices.
"I think Lukaku on August 31 would have been £150million.
"He will help us in our goal of winning the title." can't wait to see back in Red! September 4, 2017
"Matic would have been £60million or £70million. Neymar changed everything.
"If the biggest transfer in history had still been [Paul] Pogba, I think Philippe Coutinho would now be in Barcelona at £101million
"But because we did it in the first part of the summer, it was much less.
"I think we did well in financial terms and well in preparation terms, getting them before the season started."
‘Managing Leeds? It was an option that appeared, but it wasn’t the right timing. I decided it wasn’t a good idea to leave the club I was at mid-season’: Premier League boss admits to turning down opportunity to replace Jesse Marsch in 2023
‘Ruben Amorim could have waited for Real Madrid and had a better chance to be successful – to have joined Manchester United, he must be convinced in his own ability’ Former Old Trafford coach’s verdict on new boss
