Since there was still time in the afternoon, the Manchester United team had a quick lunch and then left for their next destination Stuttgart.
Upon arriving in Stuttgart, Tiger King swiftly negotiated with the club and secured 18-year-old German defender Kimmich from their youth academy for just 1 million euros.
Tiger King knew that elite full-backs would become a rare commodity in world football. Securing Kimmich now wasn't just about the present—it was about future-proofing Manchester United.
Tiger King valued Kimmich not just for his midfield skills, but for his versatility. In later years, the world would know him as one of the most adaptable players—equally brilliant in midfield and defense.
Watching Kimmich's development at Stuttgart, Tiger King saw something special. The young German wasn't just a midfielder; he was a tactical chameleon. When Philipp Lahm was injured, Kimmich stepped in and delivered world-class performances as a full-back—7 games, 1 goal, and 6 assists. He defended like a seasoned veteran and attacked with precision.
Tiger King turned to Woodward with a knowing smile. "Another future star in the bag," he said.
Woodward shook his head in disbelief. "You really think this kid will make it big?"
Tiger King chuckled. "Give it time, Ed. One day, Kimmich will be the backbone of any team he plays for."
And with that, Manchester United had quietly secured a gem for the future.
In Germany, while Tiger King continued to unearth promising young talents, major moves were reshaping the Bundesliga transfer landscape. Bayern Munich, under their newly appointed coach Guardiola, struck early. First, they spent 25 million euros to sign midfielder Thiago—Guardiola's former love—from Barcelona. Then, in a follow-up move, they invested 3.8 million euros to acquire Germany's hottest young talent, Mario Götze, from Dortmund. With these signings, Bayern's midfield transformed into an assembly of stars.
Not to be outdone, Dortmund made their own high-profile moves. They scouted and secured Mkhitaryan—a Ukrainian Golden League winner from the previous season—from Donetsk for 27.5 million euros. Shortly after, they purchased Papastasopoulos from Bremen for 9.5 million euros. To top it off, news broke that Dortmund had successfully renewed Royce's contract, boosting his annual salary to 6 million euros—making him the highest-paid player at the club.
Other Bundesliga clubs were also making significant moves, each determined to strengthen their squads for the challenges ahead.
However, Tiger King's primary focus wasn't on these high-profile transfers but rather on the details surrounding Lewandowski's situation. The Polish striker's future remained uncertain, and every move in the transfer market could impact his decision.
Tiger King was pleased to see that history seemed to be repeating itself—Lewandowski had yet to renew his contract with Dortmund, just as in the past. If things continued this way, he would become a free agent in the summer of 2014, eventually joining Bayern.
But this time, Tiger King would not let that happen. He was determined to intercept Lewandowski before Bayern could make their move. With a clear plan in mind, he was ready to bring the Polish striker to Old Trafford and forge a new and unstoppable Red Empire!
With the trip to Germany completed, the team soon set their sights to the next part of their journey. Netherlands.
Woodward sighed dramatically, "Alright, alright. So who are we looking at in the Netherlands?"
Tiger King glanced at his list. "There are a few young talents in the Eredivisie that I have my eyes on. But first, we're heading to FC Groningen"
"Groningen?" Woodward raised an eyebrow. "Who do you have your sights set on there?"
Tiger King smiled knowingly. "You'll see soon enough."
Summer Transaction Status
1. Marcos Alonso - LB - Free Transfer - Five Year Contract
2. Dele Alli - Midfielder - Free Transfer - Joined the Youth Team
3. Leroy Sane - The Next No. 7 - 800,000 Euros
4. Joshua Kimmich - Young German Defender - 1,000,000 Euros
Pending Transfer Budget: 48.2 Million Euros