Schalke chief Christian Heidel concedes Premier League clubs will always face paying premium price for players.

Heidel, sporting director for Schalke, who sold Leroy Sane to Manchester City for £37m, said prices rise as soon as an English club comes knocking.

He said: “If English managers are on the phone, then the transfer sums are automatically higher."

The world record fee United paid Juventus caused a “Pogba effect" that helped them buy Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain from Napoli for an Italian record fee of £75.3m.