Tiger King and Woodward hurried through the streets of Le Havre, another stop on their whirlwind tour of France.
Woodward groaned, struggling to keep up. "Tiger, my back isn't built for this pace!"
"Move faster, Ed! What if someone beats us to it?"
Woodward sighed, throwing up his hands. "Fine, fine. But at least tell me—are we signing another free agent? You know I love a good bargain."
"Not this time," Tiger King smirked. "But it's still a steal—500,000 euros."
Tiger King smirked, his eyes gleaming with confidence. "Because, Ed, sometimes the best treasures are hidden in plain sight. This kid is a diamond in the rough, and in a few years, people will wonder how we got him for just 500,000 euros."
Woodward chuckled. "You say that every time we sign someone cheap. But I have to admit, after watching Kante up close, I'm starting to believe in your scouting magic."
Tiger King grinned. "See? You're learning. Now hurry up, we don't want someone else swooping in at the last minute."
Woodward groaned dramatically. "Fine, fine. But after this, we're having a proper meal. My stomach has been running on coffee and your enthusiasm all day."
"Deal. But only if we secure this signing first." With that, the two hurried into the heart of Le Havre, ready to land their next gem.
The two arrived at Le Havre's club offices with one goal in mind—securing a deal for a young talent, Riyad Mahrez.
As soon as they sat down, club chairman Jean-Pierre Louvel didn't waste any time. He raised five fingers. "500,000 euros."
Before Woodward could even react, Tiger King leaned forward and sealed the deal with a single word: "Done."
The negotiations with Mahrez went just as smoothly. The young winger's face lit up with shock and excitement.
Woodward leaned toward Tiger King and whispered, "I've seen that exact expression before."
Tiger King chuckled. "Get used to it, Ed. You'll be seeing it a lot in the next few days."
For Mahrez, there was no hesitation. The fast-paced Premier League was the perfect stage for his speed and flair—especially at a club like Manchester United. Without even waiting for Woodward to break down the finer details, he grabbed a pen and signed his name at the bottom of the contract.
Tiger King patted Mahrez on the shoulder and said with a smile, "After Giggs retires next year, the entire left flank of Manchester United will be yours."
That evening, Le Havre chairman Jean-Pierre Louvel invited his two distinguished guests to dinner. For him, establishing a connection with Manchester United was an opportunity worth celebrating.
Raising his glass, Louvel grinned and said, "Mr. Tiger, do you know why I like you so much?"
Tiger King raised an eyebrow. "Tell me."
"Because when I name a price, you don't haggle—you just say yes! I love buyers like that! Hahaha!"
At those words, Woodward's expression soured. Buying something without negotiating? That was practically a cardinal sin in his book. He cast a resentful glance at Tiger King, as if mourning all the money that could have been saved.
Tiger King couldn't help but feel amused. Deep down, he was thrilled with the signing of Mahrez.
He clearly remembered that in early 2014, during the winter transfer window, Mahrez had joined Leicester City for just 500,000 euros. In a mere two years, he had helped them win the Premier League title, claimed the Premier League Player of the Year award, and was crowned African Footballer of the Year in 2016.
In later years, Mahrez's transfer saga would become a hot topic. In 2018, his move to Manchester City caused a major standoff between Leicester City and Guardiola's team, with City eventually bidding as high as 75 million euros.
Yet now, Tiger King had secured Giggs' future heir for just 500,000 euros—an absolute bargain. He couldn't be more satisfied.
The next morning, as Tiger King and Woodward prepared to leave Le Havre, the club's chairman, Jean-Pierre Louvel, personally came to their hotel to see them off.
Before parting, Louvel warmly shook Tiger King's hand and grinned. "Mr. Tiger, if you ever fancy another player from our team, just let me know. The price is always negotiable!"
Tiger King replied with a polite nod. "And if your club has any young talents worth watching, feel free to recommend them to me. As long as they fit Manchester United, my policy remains the same."
"No bargaining, haha! I really like doing business with you!" Louvel burst into laughter, his face beaming with satisfaction.
As their car pulled away, Tiger King scoffed. "A club run by a chairman who only cares about money and ignores the team's development? No club can truly thrive that way."
Woodward nodded in satisfaction, then suddenly recalled something. "Tiger, how did you know that Louvel's price for Mahrez would be 500,000 euros?"
Tiger King shrugged. "I told you before, I—"
"Don't give me that nonsense about a dream revelation!" Woodward interrupted, clearly unimpressed. "Be serious."
Tiger King smirked internally. If I told you it's because of memories from my past life, would you even believe me? Feigning seriousness, he responded, "I've been tracking player transfers for over a decade. For different players, leagues, and market trends, I can make a fairly accurate estimate."
Woodward remained skeptical. "Oh, come on. Even the best football executives can't predict numbers that precisely. Do you have inside information?"
Tiger King glanced out the window, avoiding eye contact. "If I had inside information, would I really need to work this hard negotiating transfers?"
Woodward squinted at him. "Fine. Then prove it. If you're such a genius, estimate the price of our next transfer target. If you get it right, I'll admit you're a business mastermind."
Tiger King chuckled inwardly. With his knowledge of future football, he could recall most major transfer fees without breaking a sweat. Among fans in his past life, they used to call him the Football Encyclopedia.
Summer Transaction Status
1. Marcos Alonso (Age = 23) - LB - Free Transfer - Five Year Contract
2. Dele Alli (Age = 16) - Midfielder - Free Transfer - Joined the Youth Team
3. Leroy Sane (Age = 17)- The Next No. 7 - 800,000 Euros
4. Joshua Kimmich (Age = 18) - Young German Defender - 1,000,000 Euros
5. Virgil van Dijk (Age = 22) - CB - 5,000,000 Euros
6. Marco Asensio (Age = 17) - Nimble Attacking Midfielder - 1,000,000 Euros
7. Eric Bailley (Age = 19) - CB - 2,500,000 Euros
8. N'Golo Kanté (Age = 22) - Defensive Midfielder - CDM - Free Transfer
9. Riyad Mahrez (Age = 22) - Replacing Ryan Giggs - LW - 500,000 Euros
Pending Transfer Budget: 39.2 Million Euros
Current Squad Status
Goalkeepers - David De Gea, Anders Lindegaard, Ben Amos, Sam Johnstone
Defenders - Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidić, Jonny Evans, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Patrice Evra, Rafael da Silva, Fábio da Silva, Alexander Büttner
Midfielders - Michael Carrick, Paul Scholes (Retired), Ryan Giggs, Anderson, Darren Fletcher, Shinji Kagawa, Antonio Valencia, Nani, Ashley Young, Tom Cleverley
Forwards - Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez, Danny Welbeck, Wilfried Zaha