Chapter 36 The "Young Guards" who call the wind and rain

After the Christmas dinner, Simon Grayson went to meet the team's chairman Ken Bates again. This time he did not come for money, but it could also be said that he came for money.

"Ha Simon, I knew you would definitely come to me lately! Come, sit down and taste the cigar my brother just brought me from Cuba!"

The old man with a white beard threw a cigar for his head coach. Simon Grayson took it with a smile and looked at the old man with a blushing face and couldn't help but sigh in his heart. He really didn't understand where this old man got so much energy. He was already eighty years old!

"Mr. Chairman, I'll come this time..."

Simon Grayson sat down and lit the cigar. Ken Bates smiled and stopped him: "Simon, are you here to ask for money? Tell me, how much do I want, I will try my best to satisfy you!"

Leeds United's performance this season is obvious to all. Although Ken Bates is stingy, he also knows that the team has a real hope of rushing to the English Premier League this season. This is definitely not the time to save money. As long as the team is upgraded, he can make a lot of money next time. Even if he doesn't want to play football, he can directly sell the team and get a lot of cash, so he performed quite generously.

Simon Grayson was stunned. He was a little uncomfortable with the attitude of the President. This was the first time he had seen such a generous Ken Bates!

After embarrassingly wrapping two cigars, Simon Grayson looked at the smug old man through the smoke and felt annoyed in his heart... This old thing!

After sorting out his own ideas, Simon Grayson omitted the words that he had originally planned to convince Ken Bates: "Mr. Chairman, you have also seen the team's performance this season. I believe we are definitely able to directly enter the Super League and return to the Super League! "

Ken Bates nodded and grinned: "Yes, Simon, I know this very well, I believe we can do it! Your work is amazing!"

After a smile, Simon Grayson said seriously: "But, Mr. Chairman, have you ever thought that after we advance to the Super League, can we really relegate with the team's existing strength? To put it badly, if we don't sign, if we don't buy a few capable players, relegation is really a very difficult thing for us!"

"Haha, Simon, of course I know this. Don't worry. After the team is upgraded, I will prepare some money for you to strengthen the team's strength. In four or five months, I will hand over the money to you! In the summer, you can buy the players you think are useful to the team!"

The stingy chairman is indeed very stingy, but he has been obsessed with the football world for many years and is very clear about what money can be saved and what money cannot be saved. As a promotional team in the Super League next year, it is really difficult to relegate. Of course, if there is a large investment, it is still not a big problem.

Ken Bates is really satisfied with Leeds United today, especially this season, due to Wang Tiezhu's sudden emergence and Ben Parker formed the "Three Leeds Musketeers" with Jonny Hausen, which gave the team a main framework and gave the team a true soul. Even if such a team is not a top-level team, it will not be much worse. These three young people are definitely the hope and foundation for the revival of the "Youth Guards".

Simon Grayson chuckled and shook his head. This time it was his turn to be proud. The stingy chairman has rich experience in playing football, but when it comes to building a team and transfer operations, he is far from it!

"Mr. Chairman, your idea is of course correct, but I think summer signings are not good for us. Our signing work should start this winter!"

"oh!?"

Ken Bates looked at Simon Grayson in surprise: "Simon, tell me your reasons!"

Simon Grayson nodded: "Mr. Chairman, the reason why I said we should start signings from this winter is because we now have a great advantage in the league. If we sign in the Super League next season, the quality of our signings will definitely be very high, which will make our team more competitive, and even let us directly win the English Champions League championship, ensuring that we will succeed in the Super Team this season!"

"Haha, Simon, what you said makes sense, but I think if there is only one reason, it is still not worth it for us to make a big fight in the transfer market now, right?"

"Of course!" Simon Grayson smiled and said, "The most important thing is that when the signing is made next summer, some capable players may not choose to come to our team, and in the summer... the players' value may be outrageous! Don't forget that the European Championship will be held this summer!"

"kindness----"

Ken Bates nodded in surprise. He knew that his head coach was right. Many incredible transfers will always be born in summer in major competitions. At this time, various professional football clubs are often a little irrational. Players who perform well in one or two games will double their value.

"Okay, Simon, I agree with your analysis, so we will start targeted signings this winter. Although the club may be in a loss state in the next six months,... Haha, I agree with your request. I will quickly send some money to the transfer fund account, and you can start your signing work."

Simon Grayson smiled excitedly with a cigar in his mouth. After rubbing his hands and taking the cigar, he asked tentatively: "Sir, can you tell me how much transfer funds I have? I can also plan it! And you know, when we upgrade to the Super League, our team will definitely have a major cleaning, and we should be able to recover a lot of funds at that time."

Ken Bates laughed and said, "Okay, OK, Simon, this time I promise I won't be stingy! I will give you a transfer fee of 20 million pounds, and the players' salaries... Well, it can be increased to 1.2 million annual salary! This should be enough, right?"

"Enough! Enough! Of course enough!"

Simon Grayson couldn't even keep his mouth shut. This was Ken Bates' biggest party. The transfer fee of 20 million pounds was enough to buy him many capable players, and the annual salary of 1.2 million pounds was not low. It was already quite good for many players with strong reputation but not very famous.

When the Leeds United head coach left the president's office, his face was full of confidence. Although the team's reconstruction work was extremely difficult, every position from the striker to the midfield to the back line, and even the team's goalkeeper needed to make signing adjustments, but Simon Grayson, who was holding a transfer fee of £20 million in his hand, was really full of energy.

The team's tactics have now taken shape, and the "Young Guards" have achieved the tactical intention of using their strong attack power to crush all opponents in the league. Now, no matter what team they encounter, Leeds United is fighting against their opponents.

Although it is challenging to lead the team back to the Super League and successfully relegate next season, Simon Grayson firmly believes that with the "Three Musketeers of Leeds" as the main body of the team, they will use £20 million to sign to enhance the team's strength. If they cannot lead the team to the Super League and relegate successfully, Simon Grayson himself will not forgive himself.

In the next half month, the "Youth Guards" became the most popular team among all the teams in the English Champions League, because they completed three transfers in a row, and these three transfers not only enhanced the team's overall combat effectiveness, but also brought confidence to Leeds United fans.

On January 5, Leeds United announced that they signed New Zealand defender Winston Red from West Ham United for £1.6 million. This 23-year-old young defender is competent for centre-back and right-back. He has also played for West Ham United for a season in the Premier League. It is the kind of combative, experienced and motivated player Leeds United needs.

Five days later, the 30-year-old midfielder Dean Whitehead of the Super League team Stoke City was bought by the "Youth Guards" for 2.8 million pounds. This veteran who can play as a midfielder, midfielder, right forward and right back was the main player in Stoke City's English Premier League last season, but now he became a substitute because of a knee surgery last summer. However, his competitive level is still worthy of recognition. When Simon Grayson invited him, Dean Whitehead, who is ambitious at the Huzhu, turned over without hesitation. Even a fool can see that Leeds United will definitely be able to move to the Super League as two of the previous places this season. If you throw it to gain a foothold, you can represent the "Youth Guards" in the English Premier League next season, which is still very attractive.

Winston Red and Dean Whitehead's transfers are all tangible to enhance the team's strength, but the third transfer transaction in the next Leeds United winter transfer period is not just to enhance the team's strength. Simon Grayson also needs to use this signing to enhance the reputation and momentum of his team, so as to achieve the goal of overwhelming other opponents in the English Champions League in one fell swoop.

Because Simon Grayson is going to spend some money this time, he is going to introduce a star, and of course this star is going to be out of date, otherwise Leeds United's financial situation will not be able to afford it, but this star must also have a certain strength, otherwise it will be in vain if it is not used.

Selected and finally Simon Grayson selected Newcastle's striker...Sora Ameobi!

This black forward with Nigerian descendants was still very smooth at the beginning of his career. He quickly completed the transition from the youth echelon to the first team at the "Magpie" Newcastle. However, although Ameobi always worked hard and bravely met various challenges, he failed to achieve any major achievements in the end. So far, he has only scored 49 goals in 249 professional league games. Such a result is not very outstanding for a forward player.

After representing the England U21 national team, he did not have the opportunity to represent Nigeria, but the England national team's forward line has never lacked competition, so Ameobi is just a relatively famous star so far.

When Leeds United proposed to Newcastle that he wanted to buy Ameobi, the "Magpie" who was in a tight financial situation agreed. In the eyes of Newcastle boss Mike Ashley, a thirty-year-old veteran with a good reputation and strength can still sell for a good price. This is definitely a very good deal. As for Ameobi's relationship with Newcastle... go hell!

After the two clubs reached an agreement, the rest was to negotiate the price. In the end, the two sides reached an agreement on a price of 5.5 million pounds. Ameobi was moved by the team's management and finally sent him away, and at the same time squeezed out the last point of value from the loyal black striker.
Chapter completed!