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My first training session with the team went well with no hiccups to speak of, a lot of the team are unfit after the World Cup and are being trained back to their normal fitness ready for the new season.
With no new news other than Alan Curbishley’s appointment at Leeds United I was able to spend the next three days watching the players train. Shortly after one training session I was approached by Pat Rice.
“Mr Hill Wood wants to see you boss, he’s in his office”
“Thank you Pat, I’ll see you later”
I headed of to Hill Wood’s office, I had never been inside but it was extremely comfortable, as I entered I was greeted by him and Daniel Fiszman, a director on the board.
“I wanted to ask you if you’d had any ideas on transfers yet” said Hill Wood as I sat down.
“I haven’t identified any targets yet, but I’m about to send a scout out to take a closer look at a few players” I replied
“Right, if you come up with anyone then we want to hear first remember” said
Fiszman, “We are glad to see you taking a thoughtful approach to transfer business, although the club is in a healthy financial situation we aren’t as well equipped as ………. lets just say ,others in this country.”
“Well I’ll let you know when I’ve targeted any players, but like I say I’m still looking around.”
“Have you decided what kind of players you want?” asked Fiszman
“I’m looking for a goalkeeper, a striker and a winger or two, but I may make other signings if that’s acceptable.” I said, hoping that I hadn’t been summoned to hear that I was about to get a budget cut. Thankfully I hadn’t.
We went on to discuss my plans for the club and who I was going to sell, then how I was settling in. After the meeting I arranged appointments in my office with Mart Poom, Manuel Almunia, and Jeremie Aliadiere.
In my meetings with these three players, Poom and Aliadiere were both informed that I had decided to transfer list them, and Almunia that I would be monitoring him very closely in coming weeks to decide whether or not to keep him on the transfer list and let him leave. Aliadiere was clearly disappointed with my descision and informed me that he wanted to prove me wrong.
I was pleased to hear this but told him that his chances would be limited to reserve team football. Both Poom and Almunia have been placed in the reserves as well.
Throughout the rest of the day I had several other appointments, this time with players who’s contracts were going to expire at the end of the season.
I informed Jens Lehmann and Johan Djourou that negotiations regarding a new deal would start shortly. I was keen to tie Lehmann down to the club for the next two seasons and I feel Djourou will have a lot to offer the club in coming seasons.
Lauren and Justin Hoyte however were told that they would have to prove to me that they merited new deals at the club, and if they failed to impress they would leave at the end of the season.
Mart Poom had already been told that his contract will not be renewed so he had already been sorted out, and he now had the next year to find himself a new club.
I met up with my scouts Steve Rowley and Giles Grimandi today to discuss two players who I had sent them out to take a closer look at. Andres Guardado, a nineteen year old left winger from Mexico, capable also of playing at left back, and sixteen year old Colombian Sherman Cardenas, who can play as a right winger or attacking midfielder were the players in question.
Both players were recommended and later that day I met with the board to discuss the teenagers. I have been given the all clear to make a move for the players and I now await a reply from Atlas (to whom I have made an enquiry). I have tabled a contract offer to Cardenas, who is available for £750,000 compensation.
I am hoping to seal deals for both players shortly.
A fax came through from Atlas concerning the transfer of Andres Guardado today. Although Atlas seemed willing to talk, they were looking for a large chunk of money and I was very keen to avoid paying over the odds, as I had begun to target a few more players who I wanted to sign.
Mr Tom Wulfric, Arsenal Football Club
Dear Mr Wulfric,
Following your interest in our player Andres Guardado we have come up with the following valuation of the player. The details of any possible transfer are below.
Transfer Fee : £4,000,000
Additional Clauses : None
-
I wasn’t too sure about what I thought was an unreasonable fee, and returned what I thought was a more acceptable bid by fax : £2,800,000.
The team arrived in Switzerland for the upcoming friendlies and once we’d checked into our hotel in Bellizona I received a message from Peter Hill Wood.
Sherman Cardenas has accepted the clubs contract offer and we have now applied for a work permit to complete the deal. A decision will be made on Friday 14th July in
three days and I am hopeful that the deal will be finalised.
Really enjoying this which says something because the only other one Ive properly got into is New Era At Madrid- amazing. And so is yours! Can't wait for updates...
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