They are smart in a way... They use their club's "big name" to
attract these so called good player with little time left on their
contracts and buy them cheaply then keep them on the bench for a
season then when they cannot take it anymore... Agree to go and
they will ask for a huge transfer fee like in the case of
Owen...
I think they have done this quite a number of times
already... Saviola is also another one... They sign him for free
when his contract finish then keep him on the bench. Then if anyone
want, ask for big money... I think Wenger was quite interested last
time but when he was quoted the fee... Wenger forget
it...
I think they were planning the same thing with Jermaine Pennant
also... His Pool contract over this June and they suddenly
became interested in him... I guess cos he could join for free...
They could keep him for a season then sell him back to some mid
table English clubs for anything from $6 to 8 million profit...
Money making policy in signing slightly above average players...
Cos even mid-table clubs need to buy mah...