I keep seeing this line of reasoning but it simply doesn't add up.
Levy has been making player sales a nightmare for buying clubs for the past 15 years. Yet Spurs still routinely buy players with the potential to be future stars.
What players look for in a new club is, in no particular order: salary; a step up from their old club; the new club's manager; their chances of getting in the team; the team's chances of competing in the CL; the team's chances of winning silverware; the team's style of play; where the club is based; how much the new club makes them feel wanted and appreciated.....etc.
The possibility of that club driving a hard bargain in 3-4 years, when the player wants to leave, will rarely figure highly among the list of considerations. Especially if that club can point to previous players such as Carrick, Berbatov, Modric, Bale and Walker - all of whose new clubs were subject to such hard bargaining but all of whom got their moves regardless and went on to have highly successful, silverware laden careers.