VDV is not really a good example as he wasn't ws available at the price Spurs got him. He only became available at that price when his move to Germany, for at least double the value, broke down at the last minute. Real were convinced it would go through and committed in other areas, thus he was punted him to the only place he could go with a couple of hours left in the window. I wasn't convinced about Sneijder until he joined Inter either.
That said, even at double the price VDV would've been better value than the likes of Milner. That says more about the English players market and Man City targets though.
I'm not sure that what Ferguson says is wrong because in the past he very often picked the best of the English/UK market. Out of the players he'd want and people who would sign for Man U I don't think there is too much value value.