Don't agree, this is a valid bidding strategy, let it be known you are bidding on lots of players from different teams so you are not to worried if you don't get in this case Imrie.
Start low, so you can then be seen to increase your bid and compromise.
In the current economic climate I suspect some teams will let players go cheaply (will take 75% or so of what they would like), as they may need it to hold off creditors/avoid admin (thinking Killie).
Or Boards might think as some on here have pointed out, how many players they had to let go on a free at the end of contact, perhaps better to take some cash, before this happens.