The difference here is if ETH stays, the relationship would remain tenuous at best because he would know him staying was a consolation because the likes of Tuchel weren’t interested.What’s wrong with meeting other people? City was meeting with Pep Guardiola when Pellegrini was still in charge. Liverpool met Klopp in advance when Brendan Rodgers was still managing.
Big clubs and owners talk to potential people all the time. Whether they go through with the decision or not is their decision. The manager is just an employee and has little say in that.