We didn't sign cheaper options, we just didn't hire better manager/coach who had ability to bring the best out of the players. We signed players who had very good seasons and showed lot of promise, somehow most of them didn't step up. If we had someone like Klopp, Poch most of the players would have been a success.
2014-15:
Herrera - Very good player for Bilbao
Shaw - PFA team of the year when he was just 18
Blind - Dutch league footballer of the year.
Di Maria - CL team of the season, most assists in La Liga, FIFA team of the year.
Rojo - Not sure how good he was for Sporting but he was good in the world cup. We can add him to not so good category.
2015-16:
Depay - Dutch league top scorer and 2nd best player. Rated as best young player by France Football.
Darmian - Serie A team of the season for 2 seasons
Schneiderlin - He was very good for Southampton
Martial - Golden boy award winner in 2015
Schweinsteiger - He was on decline.
2016-17
Pogba - Serie A team of the season, FIFA team of the season, I think most assists in Serie A
Zlatan - He had probably his best season for PSG
Mkhitaryan - Among top 3 players in Bundesliga, most assists in Bundesliga
Bailly -
At least till that point, we signed players who had good seasons. Next season we signed Lukaku who scored 25 league goals, Matic who was one of the main midfielders for the team that won the league.
Somehow they all regressed once they joined the club, at least most of them.