Seems like a work of genius to me. Offer unrealistic prices for "targets" you don't really want, word gets around that you don't have a lot of money, negotiate directly with the players you do want so that they want to join you e.g Mascherano, then talk to their clubs, tell them you don't have a lot of money (which they now believe) and sign the players at realistic prices as they make it clear to their clubs that they only want to sign for you. That's why Gillet and Hicks are millionaires.