I think the opportunity to completely overhaul the squad would be very attractive to most managers coming in. Stamp your name on it and get in the players you really want. If we were able to sign him I'd see that as a great sign that big money is going to be made available to him. Whereas if we got somebody like Silva in, i.e. the cheap option, then that'd be a sign for me of the old gang sticking around which would be very concerning.
On your second point, which makes my first comment a completely moot point, I thoroughly agree that we won't get him.