I think most clubs would rather have the player in early. The last minute rush is more down to the players/agents trying to get the best deal possible I would have thought.
Our wages bill last year was 14m for all staff at the club. To sign Wayne Bridge would have cost us 1m+ in wages a year. That is a big chunk of the budget gone on one player.
I thought the transfer and wages budgets were now in one pot together? They were separate when He Who Must Not Be Named left. At least that is what our previous manager said, anyway. But I may be wrong.