... we know Hughton has a few irons in the fire.
Suggesting there IS money ... but Ashley doesn't want the world to know how much he plans to spend.
If you make an offer of next-to-nothing, then up it ... the haggling favours the buyer.
Announce you have £50m to splash about ... and the seller ups the price.
I'm not saying this is the case, but it would be a practical ploy. One the Sunderland chairman may have spotted.
Niall Quinn: "They could be playing a clever game.
"They may have set themselves up a little bit when Mike took them on. There was a new pressure because he was bringing so much money into the club, the outside world thought, 'This is it, Newcastle are going to be in the top four'.
"This time around, I'm sure they have learnt an awful lot to give a lesser message out, and anything better is a bonus.
"I wouldn't be surprised if Chris has loads of money to spend."