I think all would agree that BA both needs and wants to be the major beneficiary of the sale of BMI however that is achieved. The BMI situation has been brewing for many months. BA has had plenty of time to consider its options in the face of a range of eventualities. It will surely know how much it is prepared to pay for the whole or the parts and because the outcome is more critical to BA than other operator it is likely to be ready to pay a high price if that is the way to achieving its aim.
It is a convenient fiction for BA to let it be known it is "only interested in the slots."