They were never going to be able to offload him easily and one would expect they hoped to make some discreet inquiries round to see if anyone wanted him, suspect NUFC kinda thought they could get BRINGING OUR BOY BACK HOME publicity and made a silly offer and have made it impossible for liverpool to conduct their business on the quiet. Think they rather walked into this one, they shouldn't have offered him back, but offered him to West Ham and other clubs, still may have happened, and I may be completely wrong.