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...