Another thing I thought about in this case is how we negotiated the fee, presumably.
As everyone knows there is one fee for the top clubs, and another for regular clubs, a point which Wenger has publically bemoaned.
If what we've heard about this transfer is true then we've hijacked a regular clubs transfer at the very last minute, after a fee has been agreed. The fact that a fee has been agreed would probably make it a lot easier to either get the same deal, or one marginally more expensive. The selling club would hardly be in a position to refuse a bid from us if they've already agreed on a lesser deal with another club.
In comparison, if we'd have been the only club coming in for him I'm sure we would have had to pay twice what we will now.
Good business sense if true.
