You answered your own question mate. They had a decent offer and the eyes went kerching. They reason they didn't hold out is he could get halved at the weekend and then no more kerching. They can't afford to replace him either way so may as well cash in.If they didn't extract maximum value from the deal they should get themselves an agent to do it for them like players do.
If none of it goes back into the team either they're
A. utter greedy wankers
B. don't want to do a Livi
C. In it to piss you off