This morning, inside his office at the Carrington Training Base, Tiger King held a freshly printed copy of The Sun, the ink still carrying its strong scent. He was reading a column by journalist Wolf, titled Good Coach, with a look of amusement.
"We have to admire the keen business sense of the Glazer family. They really picked the perfect coach. Judging by his frugality in the transfer market, he fits their financial ideals perfectly. Just look at the players he's brought in—English Championship, French Ligue 2, Bundesliga youth teams. My God! Before I even question the credentials of Manchester United's new manager, I must first applaud the club's unique scouting vision.
This summer, Manchester United's biggest signing was Wilfried Zaha, a deal arranged by Ferguson before his departure. Since taking over, Tiger King has signed 15 young players in one go. Is he suffering from some form of footballing 'pedophilia'? Or does he truly believe that all 15 of these unproven kids will turn into the next Cristiano Ronaldo?"
In the office with Tiger King were his two trusted assistants—Mike Phelan and Paul Scholes. Both were reading their own copies of The Sun, brows furrowed in frustration.
Tiger King glanced at his two assistants and took a moment to reflect.
Phelan, at 45, and Scholes, at 37, were both close to his own age of 38. This made communication easy between them. Scholes had been his close friend since their youth team days, while Phelan had worked under Ferguson for years. When the legendary manager departed, he specifically urged Phelan to assist Tiger King, making him an invaluable right-hand man.
Phelan, having served as Ferguson's personal assistant in the final five years of his reign, was an expert in team management, intelligence gathering, and player coordination. Meanwhile, Scholes, with his world-class footballing experience and immense respect within the club, was in charge of training and developing players.
"This is absolute rubbish!" Phelan exploded, slamming the paper onto the desk. "Pedophilia? That's a disgraceful personal attack! We should sue them!"
Scholes raised a hand in an attempt to calm him down. "Relax, Mike. No need to get worked up over this."
Tiger King chuckled. "Mike, Paul, don't let it get to you. I saw this on my way in and thought it was amusing, so I grabbed a few copies for us to read. It's just noise. The real priority is rebuilding this team. I don't have time to waste on nonsense like this—I just wanted you to see how the outside world perceives us."
Tiger King leaned back in his chair, tossing The Sun onto the table with a smirk. "Forget the media. Let them talk. Our job is to focus on what really matters—the squad."
He stood up, walked over to the large whiteboard that dominated one side of the office, and gestured towards it. The board was filled with names, carefully arranged by position, representing the squad that would take on the next season.
Phelan and Scholes followed his gaze. The starting lineup, substitutes, and even youth prospects were listed. Some names had question marks next to them—players who might still leave, while others had red underlines—key players for the new season.
Goalkeepers: David De Gea, Allison Becker, Anders Lindegaard, Ben Amos, Sam Johnstone
Center Backs: Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Virgil van Dijk, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans, Fabio da Silva
Fullbacks: Patrice Evra, Marcos Alonso, Rafael da Silva, Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young, Alexander Buttner
Midfielders: Anderson, Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick, Shinji Kagawa, N'Golo Kante, Tom Cleverley
Wingers: Ryan Giggs, Nani, Riyadh Mahrez, Anthony Martial
Forwards: Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie, Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, Danny Welbeck, Wilfried Zaha
Youth Team Rotations: Joshua Kimmich, Naby Keita, Ousmane Dembele, Marco Asensio, Dele Alli, Leroy Sane, Marcus Rashford, Scott McTominay
Tiger quickly asked Scholes to rearrange the squad and filter out the current troublemakers so they could be addressed individually. Scholes nodded, took a marker, and began adjusting the names on the whiteboard. He split the players into different categories: those who were actively looking for a move away, those who were uncertain about their future, and those who were solidly committed to the club.
As Scholes worked, Woodward entered the room, looking somewhat apologetic after the recent Icardi transfer mishap. "Tiger, I wanted to clear something up after the Icardi situation," Woodward began, taking a seat. "Any amount we gain from selling players can be directly reinvested to strengthen the squad."
Tiger leaned back in his chair, letting out a relieved sigh. "Well, that's a bit of good news at least," he said. "After that mess with Icardi, I was worried we'd be stuck with what we have."
Woodward shook his head. "No, the board understands that we need flexibility. We won't spend recklessly, but you'll have room to maneuver in the market."
Tiger nodded. "Alright, good. But we still need to solve the issue at hand—keeping this squad together."
At that moment, Mike Phelan cleared his throat, drawing attention. "Scholes has finished his review," he announced. "He's identified the players who are in doubt and those actively looking to leave."
Tiger turned to Scholes, who had been quietly working on the whiteboard. "Alright, Paul, give it to me straight. Who's causing trouble?"
Scholes stood up and pointed to the list he had just compiled. "I've divided them into two categories. First, the ones who are just unsettled—maybe they're nervous about the new coaching setup, maybe they're getting offers from other clubs, but they haven't made up their minds yet."
"And the second?" Tiger asked.
"The ones who've outright asked to leave," Scholes said flatly. "These players don't want to be here, and if we force them to stay, it could hurt team morale."
Tiger folded his arms. "Let's look at the list first."
Scholes stepped aside, revealing his work.
Actively looking to leave (causing unrest):
1. Danny Welbeck – Despite his promise, he had failed to live up to expectations, and there was a growing sense that it was time for him to move on. Tiger would have to make sure Welbeck's departure wouldn't affect team morale, but his exit was necessary for the squad to evolve.
2. Alexander Büttner – whose lack of professionalism had started to show. The left-back had been rumored to be seeking a move, and his behavior had raised alarms with the coaching staff. It was clear that Büttner would be better suited to another team where he could develop without the pressure of Manchester United's expectations.
3. Anderson - he's done. He wants out, preferably to Fiorentina.
4. Bébé — not that he was ever really in our plans—wants a move back to Portugal.
5. Fabio da Silva - With Evra still the main left-back and us bringing in Mendy, he knows his chances will be limited. He wants a fresh start elsewhere.
6. Chicharito - Wants confirmation for a main force position or he is looking to transfer to Real Madrid where he has garnered interest.
Uncertain, might leave if the right offer comes:
1. Patrice Evra – A club legend, but considering a transition to Italy to extend his career. He had been a fantastic servant to the club, but his recent discontent and the growing noise surrounding his future meant that it might be time to part ways. Tiger knew that Evra's departure wouldn't be easy, but for the good of the squad, it was necessary.
2. Jonny Evans – Unsure about his place in the squad, garnering interest from other clubs who have promised him the starting role.
3. Tom Cleverley – Wants assurances about his role, could seek a fresh start.
4. Wayne Rooney - He hasn't submitted a transfer request, but there's a lot of noise from his camp. Chelsea and Arsenal are sniffing around, and he hasn't exactly denied rumors that he's open to leaving.
5. Nani - He's not making trouble, but his agent has been in talks with clubs in Italy. He wants a starting role, and with our current setup, he's worried he won't get it.
6. Zaha - Wants to stay in Crystal Palace if he does not get starting position.
Tiger crossed his arms, studying the list. "Alright, let's take this step by step. We can't afford to lose too much experience in one go."
Woodward nodded. "I can start making discreet inquiries to see what offers are out there. But if you want to convince some of them to stay, that'll be on you."
Tiger smirked. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
Tiger sighed and exchanged a glance with Woodward. "Alright," he said. "We'll deal with them one by one. But Rooney… we need a decision fast."
Woodward adjusted his tie. "If he really wants to go, we should get a premium price. But if you think you can convince him to stay, we'll back you."
Tiger nodded. "Let me talk to him first."
Phelan crossed his arms. "You think you can change his mind?"
Tiger smirked. "I guess we'll find out soon enough."
With just weeks to go before the squad gathered for pre-season training, Tiger knew he had to act quickly. He needed to offload the players who weren't pulling their weight and bring in fresh faces who could elevate the team. The deadline for signings was fast approaching, and he had to ensure the team would be ready for the challenges ahead.
Scholes and Phelan agreed that it was time to take action. "We can't waste any more time," Scholes said, looking at the names on the list. "We need to create a squad that's focused and hungry. We'll deal with the transfers as best we can, but we've got to get the troublemakers out first."
Tiger nodded, resolute. "Agreed. No distractions. We need players who will fight for this badge, not just for themselves."
Tiger knew that it wouldn't be easy. There would be backlash, media scrutiny, and possibly even locker room unrest. But in the end, it was a necessary step. The squad needed to be reshaped into a team that would fight for the top honors once again.
As the days ticked by and the deadline drew closer, Tiger could only hope that his decisions would prove to be the right ones. He was prepared for the challenges that lay ahead.