Sure, but it's hard to imagine saints would have negotiated and not been clear about whether it was that or a sell-on clause.
Anyway, this quote is coming from Bologna, in whose interest it is to imply the deal has collapsed to put pressure on Cortese and co to raise the offer or whatever. I'm not buying it.
I wrote a short time ago that this deal might go through if NC plays it tough and Bologna realise next week that there are no other (hopefully) interestded parties. I also agree about Saints must have known the contractual arrangements.