Basically covering all your bases there so you don’t lose face. ‘If we want him, we’ll get him and if we don’t get him, we never wanted him...’!!! Because how dare anyone say no to you. No one here knows the real story but maybe, just maybe, the various stories are true. You wanted him, got told ‘no’ on more than one occasion and now run the risk of looking foolish. Maybe his head has been turned - who’s wouldn’t by a club with a larger fan base, greater stature and funds to seemingly burn!? He’s openly said it’s for the owners to discuss. And it appears they have and it hasn’t gone well for you. There may well be no ‘tapping up’. But I’d say the PL will take a dim view of you repeatedly making offers for another clubs employee when you’ve been told it’s not open for discussion. But of course, you never wanted him...