makes a little sense sadly.
if contract ends next year, we probably couldnt afford to offer him what he deserves, he probably knows that and he may have to settle for less elsewhere / here and go through the whole dramas of that. suddenly a massive carrot is dangled that relieves that whole process and sets him up financially.
that said, if it does happen, there must be something in the works, he doesn't seem like the bloke who'd do that to the guys he has built something around (i know he has his history, but different circumstances there). very sad though if it is all true, our major gamechanger, always had something in his bag of tricks. will be hard to see him in other colours (in this comp anyway)