After finishing a cigar, Mike smoothed the hair at the back of his head, then spoke again.
"Kelly, get me Stoke City on the line."
His assistant immediately dialed the number and quickly transferred the call to Mike's office phone.
"How about it, old friend?"
"Our offer is sincere enough, isn't it? You know as well as I do that no one else is going to pay fourteen million euros for Shaqiri."
"We need a backup Right Winger, and he's a good option. So accept it."
Mike's tone was firm. On the other end, the Stoke City chairman was silent for a long while.
Selling Shaqiri would definitely hurt Stoke City's results next season. That was unavoidable.
But Liverpool's offer was extremely tempting for the owner of a smaller club.
Fourteen million.
How much could that improve his quality of life?
The Stoke City chairman did not dare imagine it, so he decided to make one last counteroffer.
"I want one of your players. We can do a direct exchange."
"Your center back Ocho, plus fourteen million euros. Then we have a deal."
Stoke City had their eyes on Ocho, the young center back from Liverpool's youth academy. He had also been Leo Lin's classmate and friend when Leo Lin first joined the academy.
But Mike immediately refused, because Klopp had already planned to include Ocho in Liverpool's first team squad for the new season.
After spending so much transfer money, Liverpool no longer had the funds to add another backup center back.
Mike had already finalized a deal for a starting center back, but they needed Ocho to step up as a rotation center back.
For example, in less important matches like the early rounds of the EFL Cup and FA Cup, or league matches against weaker opponents, Ocho could play a role for the first team.
"Add another seven hundred thousand. Fourteen point seven million!"
"You know Ocho current transfer value is only five hundred thousand. I'll add another two hundred thousand in cash. Seven hundred thousand in total."
The person on the other end of the phone chuckled.
"Fine, fine. Deal."
"Mike, you really are a sharp one."
Mike silently clenched his fist in celebration. Finalizing the Shaqiri deal was extremely important.
"I'll have Kelly send you the contract right away. Dinner tomorrow night. Come to my place, my treat."
After hanging up, Mike stood, straightened the cuffs of his suit, and smoothed down the hem. He knew his mission was complete.
The final call went to Southampton, for the deal Liverpool had been working on for so long.
Even before the transfer window opened, Liverpool had already made early contact with Southampton's senior management. With Southampton's approval, they had also contacted Van Dijk himself and discussed a series of contract details, including weekly wages.
Southampton were very willing to cooperate with Liverpool. After all, Mané had also been sold to Liverpool by Southampton, and the two clubs had a very good working relationship.
As for some of the promising young players in Liverpool's academy who were not quite good enough to start for Liverpool's first team, Liverpool would also be generous in selling them if Southampton needed them.
So Mike clicked on his computer, and the fourth transfer contract was sent to Southampton.
Liverpool's biggest transfer of this window.
Eighty million euros plus five million euros in add-ons to sign the super talented center back, Dutch defender Van Dijk.
After finishing all of this, Mike took out his sixth cigar. It had been his spiritual fuel during all these days of behind the scenes work.
Looking at the four transfer agreements that were basically settled, Mike leaned back comfortably on the sofa and turned to look out the window.
The colorful lights of Liverpool entered his eyes, looking especially beautiful beneath the night sky.
A voice so low it could barely be heard sounded, as if he were giving himself an answer.
"I did not let you down."
"Liverpool's brand new lineup."
"Complete."
...
August 6, early morning.
A bombshell from the transfer market exploded across the internet as front page headline news.
"Liverpool's biggest signing of this transfer window! The Dutch center back from Southampton, Van Dijk, hailed as the most perfect center back template in soccer!"
After the news broke, the entire Premier League was shaken.
Fans of other teams instantly went from mocking Liverpool to envying them, and even more worry grew in their hearts.
That was because Liverpool had made four major signings in a row, and every single one of them filled an urgent need for the team.
Soon, many fans gave Liverpool's summer transfer business a perfect score. Liverpool quickly climbed to the top of the transfer operation rankings among all clubs in the top five leagues.
Mike was even promoted by Liverpool fans from "Mike the fraud" to "Saint Mike."
"Some fans may still not understand just how luxurious Liverpool's midfield will be next season. Henderson partnered with Fabinho, Rodri in rotation, plus the genius Lin. We no longer need to envy any other team's midfield."
"Shaqiri can play on the left or the right, but he was probably bought as Salah's backup."
"At center forward, Solanke and Firmino can rotate. At center back, Van Dijk partners Lovren, with Matip and the promoted academy youngster Ocho behind them. This lineup is close to perfect!"
"Liverpool have spent every penny exactly where it needed to be spent. Incredible value!"
Van Dijk's move to Liverpool was officially finalized, and Liverpool then began bringing their new signings home to Anfield.
Liverpool fans gathered outside Anfield, desperate to capture the moment the new players first entered the club.
The first to arrive at Anfield was Rodri, who came for his medical and the final procedures of the transfer.
Leo Lin was waiting at the club. He would be there as the welcoming party for Rodri's arrival.
After all, Mike knew that the main reason Rodri had chosen Liverpool from among so many clubs was Leo Lin.
Leo Lin wore Liverpool casual wear and sat in the club lobby, waiting and looking around.
At last, the club's car slowly stopped outside. When the door opened, a smiling Rodri stepped out with powerful strides and entered the club.
Liverpool's general manager Mike and head coach Klopp were both waiting at the entrance.
Rodri greeted the coaching staff one by one. Then he quickly saw Leo Lin standing at the back of the group.
The Spaniard's eyes instantly lit up, and he rushed forward to give Leo Lin a huge hug.
"Hahahaha!"
Leo Lin laughed loudly and returned the hug.
Although it was their first time meeting, the two seemed incredibly close.
"Welcome to Liverpool!"
"You're going to have an experience here unlike anything else."
Leo Lin smiled, put an arm around Rodri, and began showing him around the club.
"Lin, actually, there's one question I've always cared about."
"In Bilbao, the food really didn't suit my taste."
"How's the food here?"
Rodri suddenly asked.
Leo Lin nodded at him with great seriousness, then swallowed.
"You asked the right person."
"I can swear to you, hand on my heart, that this place has the best boiled eggs in the world!"
"I eat one every single day!"
...
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