Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness believes spending huge amounts of money on new players is a sign of weakness rather than strength.
Bayern's biggest outlay so far this summer has been a reported 40 million euro (£35.2million) for midfielder Corentin Tolisso from Lyon.
However, that sum is dwarfed by the amounts spent by the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City on Romelu Lukaku, Alexandre Lacazette and Kyle Walker respectively.
"Some in the media think that a club has worked well if it has spent as much money as possible during the transfer window," Hoeness said at a press conference in Singapore where Bayern are on a pre-season tour.
"It is rather a sign of weakness if I have to spend a lot of money to accomplish nothing.
"It is not the most expensive transfer which is the best, but rather the one which does the most on the pitch.
"Therefore we have to find our own way in this shark pool in which we move. We want to be involved, but not at any price."
Bayern Munich are 5/1 co-favourites to win the Champions League alongside big-spending Real Madrid and Barcelona, and 1/6 good things to claim another Bundesliga crown.
