Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson recognises fans have concerns over the explosion in player wages.
Ferguson says such is the amount needed to buy at the top end of the market, that the onus on the club's academy to produce results is becoming more critical every year.
He told CNN International: "I think it effects the supporters mentality of that, how much money a player is getting paid. Not just for the transfer fees but for the salaries, and I don't think it rests easy for the supporters. But we're in such a competitive world now that you're hamstrung in relation to the borders that people are stretched to get the best players.
"Over the years, you know, we've bought players at high amounts, Berbatov 30 million, Rio Ferdinand, 20 million, Veron, 24 million Wayne Rooney, 25 million. We try to equate how we're going to give proper value before we do it. We get quite a good view about it, we look at the players and ask do they have the ability, how much can we trust them and do we see a top player in that young player.
"And I think the position that we're in now is, when I see some of them with the values, you're talking 40 million, 30+ million- we have to assess our own players first. We're not bad, we got some good young players that have come through the system, understand the club, are loyal to the club, and therefore we can build through that."
Saturday 8/14/10 1pm BST
