I'm not saying it was done, since we couldnt agree with Arsenal whatsoever, lowballing them extremely if rumours were correct, but we were in for him a long while before Man U got bidding, and before they did, it was confirmed that we had agreed personal terms with the player, but werent close to doing so with the club. He was desperate to leave, and his salary requests were high but not so unreasonable we wouldnt match it. Not saying he preferred us, just preminilary agreed with us when Man U werent an option. Its clear EPL/Man U was his first choice.