"Rebirth of the Football Tycoon".

David wasn't aware of the complicated emotions swirling among Notts County's fans. At that moment, his mind was solely focused on his travels in the Netherlands. Even though he had heard about Toshack's criticisms of the club and Alonso, he couldn't afford to deal with them just yet. David was a man of action, someone who believed in retaliation when provoked—though it might be considered a negative trait, he felt it was an appropriate description of himself. Once he had the chance, he would deal with Toshack's comments, but for now, there were more pressing matters.

The transfer activity was in full swing, and David had been busy. He secured the signing of Dirk Kuyt from Utrecht for €1.2 million. Although Kuyt had recently broken into the first team, he wasn't indispensable, and Utrecht was willing to part with him for that price. Despite Kuyt's effort, his talent wasn't exceptional by David's standards, making the move a reasonable one.

David also brought in 17-year-old Wesley Sneijder from Ajax's youth camp for a €500,000 training fee, a move that was sure to be a smart investment for the future. Additionally, young Dutch defender Maarten de Roon was acquired from Vitesse for €300,000, further strengthening the squad.

David wasn't keen on overloading the team with Dutch players, though. He recalled that Dutch footballers often had a reputation for being difficult to unite, and with his plans to foster a stable team environment, too many Dutch players might be a challenge to manage. Despite this, the trip to the Netherlands was a success.

Next, it was time to head to Italy. David managed to secure a deal for the under-the-radar striker Antonio Di Natale from Serie B side Empoli for just €300,000. Di Natale, still a relatively unknown talent at this stage, showed promise despite his modest reputation.

David also strengthened his defensive options, purchasing Marcho from Vicenza for €1 million. Additionally, he took advantage of an opportunity to buy the talented left-back Gianluca Grosso from Serie C club Chieti for a mere €100,000, knowing that another club, Perugia, was likely to snap him up if he waited too long.

While David wasn't particularly inclined to sign older players, there was one exception: Dario Hubner. At 34 years old, Hubner had recently won the Serie A Golden Boot, a remarkable achievement for a player of his age. David recognized that while Hubner was nearing the end of his career, his goal-scoring ability could still be useful in the short term. Hubner's experience could also provide guidance to the younger attackers at Notts County, offering an invaluable mentor to the likes of Villa and Di Natale.

David's final stop in Italy was in search of defensive reinforcements. While he had already secured a few key signings, he still wanted to strengthen his defense further. This led him to Porto, where he attempted to sign the promising young center-back Ricardo Carvalho. David made a €4 million offer to Porto, but Carvalho himself didn't want to join a team in England's third division. However, David's persistence paid off, and Carvalho agreed to join Notts County on a loan deal.

It was Deco, the star playmaker from Porto, who proved to be the real challenge. After a €10 million offer from Notts County, Porto seemed willing to part with Deco, but there was one major hurdle: Deco, being Brazilian, didn't yet have a work permit to play in England. Without this, he couldn't legally play for Notts County. 

David, not one to be deterred easily, struck a compromise. Deco would join Notts County on a two-year loan, with Porto covering his wages during this period. The deal worked out perfectly for both parties, as Deco could continue playing for Porto in the meantime, and after two seasons, he would qualify for a Portuguese passport. By then, Notts County hoped to be playing in the Premier League, at which point Deco could return to help the club in their bid for top-tier success.

This acquisition of Deco had David imagining the future—he pictured a midfield pairing of Alonso and Deco, two exceptional organizers controlling the flow of the game for Notts County. It seemed like the perfect setup, one that could elevate the team to new heights.

The last stop on David's whirlwind transfer tour was France. There, he secured the signing of a young Franck Ribéry from Ligue 2 side Boulogne for €80,000. At the time, Ribéry was just a promising talent, but David recognized his potential and knew it was a smart investment.

Within a matter of days, David had scoured the top footballing nations of Europe, bringing in a mix of emerging stars and seasoned professionals. While the journey had been grueling, David knew it would pay off. He had built a squad with a blend of youth and experience, one that could challenge for promotion and eventually for Premier League glory.

Back in England, two deals were handled without David's direct involvement. The club secured the services of Joleon Lescott from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £400,000 and goalkeeper Ben Foster from Stoke City for £600,000, further bolstering the squad.

By the time David's travels had concluded, Notts County's squad was stronger than ever, and the club was well on its way to achieving its ambitious goals. With a new sense of confidence, David turned his attention to the upcoming season, where he hoped to see his vision for the team come to life.