if they are the type to run down their contract, then you have to ask if you want that type of money grabber at your club......i.e. is he joining you for the right reasons.
And if he wasn't offered a new contract, then why not? Theoretically, you'd avoid 'frees' like the plague.
I have no problem with a player that makes it clear 2 years from the end of his contract that he won't be signing another as he wants a new challenge (genuinely, not just hoping for more cash) and the club decide to keep him for those two years and take advantage of what he offers as a player and said player gives 100% during those two years.
If Daime has refused to sign a new contract because he lost his place in the team, then it shows him to have either zero fight and desire to earn his place and prove the manager mistaken through hard work, or no faith in his own ability to regain his place even with the necessary application.
Our track record with frees is poor. Houllier's was good - Macca and only injury and illness robbed us of 3/3 with Litmanen and Babbel.
Ironically, Dalglish has 1/1 with Bellamy.