"Rebirth of the Football Tycoon".

Chapter 6: "The Road to Glory: Securing Future Stars"



Bayern Munich Youth Academy

David was observing a young left-back, Philipp Lahm, who was training with intensity at the Bayern Munich youth academy. As he watched, he turned to Joachim Löw, his trusted scout, with a gleam in his eye. "How about this short left-back?" he asked, clearly impressed.

Löw, ever the sharp-eyed evaluator, took in Lahm's every movement, noting the way the young defender dribbled, his ability to read the game, and his clear technical skill. "I have to say, he's a great player. Even if he doesn't make it into Bayern's first team, his solid basics and sharp mind would make him a solid starter in other Bundesliga teams. With proper development, the sky's the limit for him," Löw remarked. He had quickly recognized Lahm's potential.

David couldn't help but laugh. He was thinking ahead. "This is going to be the future captain of both Bayern Munich and Germany. The world's top left-back."

David was confident. Lahm's rise in football was inevitable, especially given that the legendary Bixente Lizarazu was nearing the end of his career, which would pave the way for Lahm to take over. David knew that Bayern wouldn't be eager to let go of such a talent, but he was determined.

David continued, "Right now, Lizarazu is at his peak, and Tanat, the main left-back for the German national team, is just sitting on the bench. Lahm's not going to break into the first team anytime soon, but we have the chance to grab him now!"

Löw, though impressed, was cautious. He wasn't entirely convinced that David could pull off the deal. "Bayern won't let him go easily," Löw warned. "They've seen his potential."

David, however, wasn't discouraged. "We'll get him on loan first. Then we can include a buyout clause in the contract. If Bayern can't refuse the price, Lahm will be ours."

David's confidence was built on what he knew about Lahm's future. He was aware that, after a loan spell to Stuttgart, Lahm would help the team win the Bundesliga championship in the 2003-04 season, making him one of the best young players in the country. David saw this as an opportunity too good to miss.

The conversation then shifted to another player on the training ground: Zvjezdan Misimović. While not a top star in his previous life, Misimović had shown his worth in the Bundesliga, earning an assist title with Wolfsburg. David saw him as a potential backup midfielder for Notts County.

Löw watched Misimović closely and nodded. "He's already at a level that could see him playing regularly in the Bundesliga. Given a bit of time, he could even make a name for himself in England's second tier."

David was pleased with the assessment. The decision was made: Misimović would be a valuable addition to the team.

The transfer process was relatively smooth. Misimović was signed for €500,000, a reasonable price for a player who had yet to break into a top team but had plenty of potential.

However, the situation with Lahm wasn't as simple. Bayern Munich was unwilling to part with him permanently, at least not yet. They had high hopes for him, and they preferred to loan him to a Bundesliga club, where they could closely monitor his development.

David, however, was persistent. He proposed a two-year loan deal with a "sky-high" buyout clause set at €10 million. If, after two years, Notts County was unable to trigger the buyout, Bayern would still get €3 million for the loan, making the deal worthwhile for them.

Bayern was intrigued by the proposal. Lahm's potential was undeniable, and while they didn't want to sell, they understood the value of the deal. David's strategy worked. The loan agreement was signed, and Lahm was on his way to Notts County.

David's focus didn't end with these two players. He was also looking for more talent. His next move was to secure a young talent from the German third division: Westman, a promising player already selected for the U21 German national team. David paid €1.2 million to bring him to Notts County.

Löw was increasingly impressed by David's sharp eye for talent. He acknowledged that the three players—Lahm, Misimović, and Westman—were a sign of David's ability to spot talent that others might miss.

David wasn't done yet. He also had his eye on 18-year-old Per Mertesacker from Hannover. Mertesacker, a towering presence in defense, would be an excellent addition to Notts County's growing youth-focused team. David knew he could build a squad that would challenge for promotion to the Premier League.

Before leaving Germany, David managed to convince Mertesacker's father, who was coaching Hannover's youth team, to join Notts County as part of their new youth training initiative. This was a crucial step in building a strong foundation for the club's future.

David was excited. His trip to Germany had gone even better than expected. He had secured the talent he needed and had built a network that would help him continue his ambitious project at Notts County. He could already imagine the team's future success.

The final transfers of the day were also fruitful. David secured the services of Villa from Sporting Gijón for €500,000 and the young goalkeeper Diego López from Real Madrid's C team for €400,000. These deals didn't require much effort on David's part, as both players were eager to join the project.

But David's real focus was on securing Xabi Alonso, the talented Spanish midfielder, to be the heart of Notts County's midfield for the next decade. Alonso's vision, passing range, and leadership would be essential in taking the club to the next level. David was willing to spend whatever it took to make this dream a reality.

With the team now shaping up, David's confidence grew. The next phase of his project was set in motion, and the future of Notts County was looking brighter than ever.


Tip: You can use left, right, A and D keyboard keys to browse between chapters.