Tiger sat in his office at Carrington, deep in thought, his gaze shifting between the whiteboard and the scouting reports spread across the table. Scholes and Phelan sat beside him, equally focused. The search for a reliable striker was growing more urgent by the day.
Robin van Persie, despite his legendary status, was nearing the twilight of his career. His body had begun to betray him, with injuries creeping in more frequently. Wayne Rooney remained the only dependable forward, carrying the weight of the attack on his shoulders. Danny Welbeck, though full of potential, was still young and inconsistent, while Javier 'Chicharito' Hernández had carved out a niche as a super-sub but wasn't suited to leading the line on a regular basis.
Scholes ran a hand through his hair, looking at the reports. "We need someone solid, someone who can carry the goal-scoring burden."
Phelan nodded in agreement. "We can't rely on Rooney alone, and we don't know how long van Persie will last. If we don't act now, we'll regret it."
Just then, a scout walked into the room, placing a detailed report on the table. Tiger skimmed through it, his eyes narrowing when he saw a familiar name: Mauro Icardi.
"Icardi…" Scholes muttered, reading over Tiger's shoulder. "He's young, clinical, and still developing. Think he fits what we need?"
Tiger didn't need much convincing. The young Argentine had been making waves with his sharp finishing and strong positioning. He had the makings of a future star, and Tiger knew they needed to act fast.
Without wasting another moment, Tiger pushed his chair back and strode out of the office, making his way to Woodward's office. He needed answers—and he needed them now.
Bursting into Woodward's office, Tiger got straight to the point. "What's Icardi's situation?"
Woodward, caught off guard by the sudden urgency, adjusted his tie and leaned forward. "He's close to joining Inter Milan, but we can intercept the deal."
Tiger's eyes lit up. "How much?"
Woodward flipped through his notes and responded, "13 million euros."
Tiger hesitated. He quickly did the math in his head. After all the transfers so far, the remaining budget stood at only 12.2 million euros. They were just 800,000 euros short—a small gap, but one that could cost them dearly.
"Can we push forward and sign him? We're only a little short." Tiger asked, hopeful.
Woodward, ever the optimist, leaned back in his chair with a confident smile. "I'll get it done. I'll find a way."
Relieved, Tiger exhaled and nodded. If they could pull this off, Manchester United would have a young, hungry striker ready to lead the line for years to come.
However, just as things seemed to be falling into place, a roadblock appeared—and it came straight from the top.
Later that evening, Woodward called Tiger back to his office. The look on his face said it all.
"Bad news." Woodward sighed. "The Glazers have put a hard stop at 50 million euros. Not a penny more."
Tiger felt his stomach drop. "You're joking."
Woodward shook his head. "I tried everything—explained the gap, pitched the long-term benefits, even offered creative structuring. They didn't budge. Fifty million is the cap. That's final."
Tiger clenched his fists. They were just 800,000 short, and yet, the owners refused to stretch even that much. This wasn't just frustrating—it was infuriating.
By the time the dust settled, it was mid-June, and Icardi had completed his move to Inter. Manchester United had missed out.
Tiger slumped into a chair, running a hand over his face. Another setback. Another missed opportunity. The squad still needed reinforcement, and now, the striker options were dwindling.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to move on. There was no time to sulk. They needed a Plan B.
With only a month left before the team gathered for pre-season training, Tiger's to-do list was growing ever longer. The failure to sign Icardi was just one of the many issues on his plate. As the manager of Manchester United, Tiger knew that time was running out, and the squad needed reshaping.
The Glazers' decision to put a cap on the transfer budget had already put a huge dent in his plans, but there was another issue that loomed larger: the internal situation at the club.
Tiger had always prided himself on building a tight-knit, focused team—one that was united in purpose and willing to fight for each other. But the current crop of players was far from ideal. As he reviewed the squad, it became clear that several members of the first team were no longer committed to the cause. These were players who, for one reason or another, had become distractions.
Scholes and Phelan had already pointed out a few troublemakers, but Tiger knew that it was his responsibility to act quickly. A dysfunctional dressing room could undo all the hard work he had done, and with just a month until pre-season, he couldn't afford any distractions.
Tiger sat down with Scholes and Phelan, both of whom had become invaluable allies in his first months in charge. The trio looked over the list of players and discussed those who might be best served by a move away from Old Trafford.