Woodward was in high spirits as he took Tiger King to the nearby city of Istres to meet an old friend, the chairman of Istres Club.
While Woodward chatted with his acquaintance, Tiger King wandered over to the club's training ground, where a young player trial was underway. He watched with interest as a particular young African midfielder caught his eye. Positioned as a defensive midfielder, the player not only showcased excellent defensive awareness but also displayed impressive technical ability. After each interception, he swiftly launched counterattacks with precise long passes.
Nearby, two coaches observed the trial, conversing in English.
"That midfielder has great positioning and sharp tackling," one remarked. "But he's too slender."
"Agreed. If he builds more strength, he could be a solid defensive midfielder. We should bring him into the youth team and develop him—he might have a real future."
"Sounds like a plan. What's his name?"
"Naby Keïta."
"What!" Tiger King almost shouted in surprise when he heard the name. Naby Keïta? No wonder he had looked so familiar just now.
Tiger King knew Keïta's career trajectory well. The young midfielder would soon make his mark at Red Bull Salzburg, where his performances would earn him a €15 million move to RB Leipzig. Over the years, Keïta would develop into one of the finest defensive midfielders in world football—a perfect blend of N'Golo Kanté's defensive tenacity and Andrea Pirlo's passing precision.
Of course, he had one major flaw—his slight frame often left him struggling in physical battles. But even that couldn't overshadow his world-class talent. By 2017, Liverpool would pay €60 million to bring him to Anfield.
And yet, here he was, just a teenager—unknown, overlooked, and right in front of Tiger King's eyes.
He never expected that Naby Keïta had actually trialed at Istres before moving to Red Bull Salzburg. It was truly astonishing.
Tiger King hurriedly called Woodward, who looked puzzled. "What's the rush?"
"I need you to translate for me, now."
Tiger King pulled Naby Keïta aside during a break and spoke to him through Woodward. Within just five minutes, they had reached a transfer agreement. Woodward immediately instructed his negotiators to prepare a contract, and Keïta signed a youth team deal on the spot.
After sealing the deal, Tiger King arranged for Keïta to travel to Manchester, ensuring everything was set up for his arrival.
Landing an unexpected midfield talent at zero cost, Tiger King couldn't be happier. With €33.2 million still left in his transfer budget, the summer was shaping up well.
Woodward was still processing everything that had just happened. Watching Tiger King's swift negotiation and immediate signing of Naby Keïta left him stunned. Just as he was about to ask what was so special about the young midfielder, Tiger King's phone rang.
He answered, listened for a few seconds, and then his face lit up with excitement. "Alright! I want this player! I'll be there right away!"
Hanging up, he turned to Woodward, eyes gleaming. "We're heading back to Le Havre—now!"
"What happened, didn't we just come from there?" Woodward was almost fainted by Tiger King.
Woodward shook his head, still baffled. "Tiger, you keep making these wild moves, and somehow, they always turn out to be gold. First Naby Keïta, and now we're rushing back to Le Havre because of a mystery player? Who is this kid?"
Tiger King grinned. "Ed, trust me on this. Keïta will be a key part of Manchester United's midfield in the future. The fact that he wasn't signed by any club yet? That's pure luck for us."
Woodward exhaled, still unconvinced but willing to go along. "And what about Le Havre? What's so urgent?"
Tiger King's grin widened. "Jean-Pierre Louvel just called me. He said there's a young player in their ranks—an absolute gem. He wants us to take a look."
Woodward chuckled in disbelief. "You're like a treasure hunter, aren't you?"
Tiger King leaned back in his seat, eyes gleaming with excitement. "That's exactly what I am."
Jean-Pierre Louvel greeted Tiger King and Woodward warmly as they arrived at Le Havre's club offices. "Tiger, Ed, welcome back! I wasn't expecting to see you again so soon."
Tiger King wasted no time. "Jean-Pierre, I hear you have a promising young player for me."
Louvel chuckled. "Straight to business as always. Yes, I do. Marseille has already put in an offer of 4 million euros. Before I finalize anything, I wanted to give you the first right of refusal. If you can match their price, he's yours."
Woodward raised an eyebrow. "You're offering us a player Marseille is ready to buy? That's a rare bit of generosity in football."
Louvel shrugged. "Call it good business. Tiger and I have a strong relationship. Besides, I know you value young talent. This one has potential."
Tiger King nodded. "Alright, let's meet him."
Moments later, Louvel led a young black Frenchman into the room. The player looked slightly nervous as he greeted them. "Hello, Mr. Tiger."
Tiger King extended his hand with a reassuring smile. "Benjamin Mendy, nice to meet you."
Mendy shook his hand firmly, though his hesitation was still apparent. Tiger King wasted no time discussing his vision for the young fullback. "Benjamin, Manchester United is looking at the future, and I believe you can be a big part of it. But I understand you're also in talks with Marseille?"
Mendy nodded. "They've offered 3 million euros and promised me a starting position next season."
Louvel watched the exchange silently, intrigued by where this was going.
Woodward, translating for Mendy, turned to Tiger King. "Sounds like he wants regular playing time. If you can't offer that, he might lean towards staying in France."
Tiger King thought for a moment, then smiled. "That's easy to fix. I'll buy you now and loan you to Marseille for two years. You'll get the playing time you want in Ligue 1, and when you're ready, you'll return to Manchester United. What do you think?"
Mendy's face lit up. "That would be perfect! If that's the plan, I'd love to sign for Manchester United!"
Louvel clapped his hands together. "Well, that was quicker than I expected."
As the paperwork was being finalized, Woodward turned to Tiger King with a smirk. "So, let me get this straight—you just hijacked Marseille's deal by agreeing to their exact plan but with Manchester United as the final destination?"
Tiger King grinned. "Business genius, remember?"
Woodward shook his head. "I swear, if you predict another transfer like this, I might start calling you a psychic instead of a coach."
Mendy, still beaming with excitement, shook Tiger King's hand again. "I won't let you down, Mr. Tiger."
Tiger King nodded. "I know you won't, Benjamin. Welcome to Manchester United—well, in two years."
In the summer of 2017, Manchester City spent €57 million to sign Benjamin Mendy from Monaco, making him the most expensive defender in history at the time. Mendy's blistering pace, pinpoint crosses, explosive power, and ball control made him a rare blend of strength and technical ability. Despite his imposing physique, he possessed the agility and finesse of an elite full-back, cementing his place among the best in the world.
For Tiger King, discovering Mendy at Le Havre was an unexpected but welcome surprise. The deal turned out to be a win-win for all parties—Le Havre profited €1 million from the transfer, Marseille secured Mendy on a two-year loan without spending a penny, and Manchester United acquired a future star for just €4 million.
With the Mendy deal finalized, Tiger King still had €29.2 million left in his transfer budget—plenty of room to strengthen the squad even further.
That night, in a quiet hotel room, Tiger King sat at a small desk, studying a sheet of paper filled with the names of top striker candidates. At the top of his list were two priority targets: Griezmann and Lukaku. Below them were a few alternative options—solid but not quite at the same level.
"I still have €29.2 million in transfer funds," Tiger King said confidently to Woodward. "That should be enough to bring in a quality striker. This is my final shortlist."
Woodward, however, shook his head. "Tiger, I think you've miscalculated."
Tiger King frowned. "Impossible. I've been keeping track. I've signed 13 young players for a total of €20.8 million, leaving me with €29.2 million to work with."
Woodward let out a small sigh and leaned forward. "You're forgetting someone."
"Who?"
"Wilfried Zaha." Woodward raised a single finger. "During the winter transfer window, the Jazz spent €15 million to sign him from Crystal Palace. The deal was agreed upon in advance, but the payment was deferred. Now that he's officially joining this summer, that €15 million is coming straight out of your €50 million budget."
Tiger King stared at him for a moment, his expression blank—then he exploded. "Oh, FK!" He slammed the paper onto the table, frustration boiling over. "Why the hell did no one tell me this before?!"
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
10. Anthony Martial (Age = 18) - Forward - 6,000,000 Euros
11. Ousmane Dembele (Age = 16) - Forward - 1,000,000
12. Naby Keïta (Age = 18) - CDM - Free Transfer
13. Benjamin Mendy (Age = 18) - LB - 4,000,000 Euros
14. Wild Card Entry Wilfried Zaha - Forward - 15,000,000 Euros
Pending Transfer Budget: 14.2 Million Euros