With accusations that PSL teams over-price players when Kaizer Chiefs come knocking, Cape Town Spurs CEO Alexi Efstathiou has explained why they want big money for Asanele Velebayi.
After Nasreddine Nabi suggested that PSL teams are not willing to do business with the Soweto giants, there are already past examples highlighted by supporters.
When Chiefs were interested in Victor Letsoalo from Royal AM two years ago, they were reportedly quoted R20 million.
READ | Spurs to Chiefs: The shop is closed now
He eventually signed for Sekhukhune United for a reported R3 million.
Last year, when the Glamour Boys came calling for Cape Town City's Khanyisa Mayo, who was their priority target, chairman John Comitis made it clear he would not leave for anything less than $2 million (R30 million at the time).
Mayo's agent Basia Michaels recently revealed, in an interview on Metro FM, that they were going to settle for a move to Chiefs, had Algerian side CR Belouizdad not come on board and reportedly concluded a deal for R20 million.
The Soweto giants were locked in bitter negotiations with Spurs for the services of Velebayi, with Efstathiou telling KickOff this week that "the shop has closed", meaning no deal will be done.
According to Efstathiou, Amakhosi's offer for Velebayi was nowhere near their valuation of the player.
Indications are that the Urban Warriors are not willing to accept anything less than R8 million.
Efstathiou has explained why they value the 21-year-old highly, despite his lack of experience in the Premiership.
"When Chiefs were recently looking at Rushwin [Dortley], we were in the NFD, so they believe Rushwin is good enough to be bought for a PSL [top-flight] team," he told Metro FM Sports.
"So, I don't know why people choose to label them NFD players or PSL players. If a player is good enough, he can play wherever, it doesn't really matter. Asanele has played 99 professional games at the age of 21. Show me another 21-year-old, with the experience that he has.
"We've been in the game for long and we know when we have a diamond and Asanele is a diamond. Diamonds don't get sold for cheap, unfortunately. If you don't like the diamond, then don't buy it. No one is forcing you to buy anything. You can go look for other diamonds elsewhere."
Chiefs may have to go look elsewhere on the continent for a winger, a position where they are thin, since the departures of Khama Billiat and Keagan Dolly.
They have signed Angolan defender Inacio Miguel, and KickOff understands at least one more foreign signing could be concluded in this transfer window.