Why did you miss out the bit where I suggest using the Baines money to sign Negredo? There is a reason why boss strikers tend to cost more than even the best left backs. I think we would be better off losing Baines and replacing Anichebe with Negredo, rather than keeping Baines and continuing with the likes of Anichebe. Baines has his negatives as well, he provides less defensive protection than Coleman does. Our team would improve if we gained Negredo at the expense of losing Baines IMO.
I addressed it in an earlier post in which I said we'd have a striker who is better at converting chances and a team which is creating far less chances. I'd be quite surprised if Oviedo or Distin led all top-flight leagues in creating chances.
Look at the difference between Baines and the guy in tenth place -- remember the guy in tenth is still top ten in the league -- are Distin or Oviedo going to be top ten in the league? And that's comparing him with attacking players -- the difference between Baines and other defenders is even more massive.
http://www.eplindex.com/22172/baines-leads-comparison-europes-creators.html
(Yes it's not from the whole season but he finished the season in first.)
The difference in conversion rate between a striker like Negredo and an average striker is not as big as the difference between Baines and an average LB. Baines is massively better than the average LB. Strikers cost more because teams incorrectly value the 5-10 extra goals an elite striker might get you over a team which is creating more chances but has average strikers. The end result is the same and one way is cheaper.
http://www.soccerstatistically.com/...e-epl-chances-created-and-chance-convers.html
You can improve by creating more chance or being better at converting chances (or ideally both). You don't improve by getting very slightly better at converting chances and getting worse at creating chances.
... and that doesn't even get into actual goals. Baines scored 7. Does his replacement get 3? 4? So sub those lost goals, lost chances, some lost defensive attributes (he is better at defending than Oviedo -- could be worth a 3 or 4 goals a season) out of Negredo's total ... I'd have a hard time thinking we are better after losing all of that.