Is it though? I thought it became pretty clear pretty quickly (maybe a year or so ago) that Gvardial was going to end up at one of the very best clubs in Europe within a year or so, and therefore we wouldn't have a chance. Even if we had made a bid, had it accepted, and agreed terms with the player, surely City, Real, and others, would have come in and blown us out of the water?
People also talk about missing out on Bastoni last year - didn't he make it pretty clear that he had no intention of coming to us?
We have to remember that players aren't just commodities we can pick up off a shelf and purchase, if they don't want to come, or if bigger dogs join the hunt, then we've got no chance.
I'm not saying we shouldn't have ambition - of course we should - but anyone (for example) expecting us to get Gvardiol is dreaming. There is no point wasting time and effort going after the very best in the world, as we simply won't get them. We do, however, need to be going after the very best of the next 'tier' - not poundland rejects. Tapsoba does seem to fit that profile.