Chapter 423: Spending 30 Million on Son Heung-min, Offering 65 Million for Reus
This year, Leroy Sane, just 19 years old, is a prodigy developed by Schalke 04's youth academy. Last season, he made his debut for Schalke 04's first team and even scored against Real Madrid in the Champions League, becoming famous overnight and drawing attention from many teams. For such a young talent, Schalke 04 naturally treated him like a treasure, tightly holding on to him, not letting him be easily poached.
When Manchester City made their offer, Schalke 04 stated that Sane was not for sale and rejected the bid.
"Not for sale my foot. If he was truly not for sale, they would have just outright refused without saying anything," Guardiola, a seasoned veteran in football, could easily read between the lines. The club didn't want to sell Sane, but the offer wasn't high enough.
Though he felt a bit annoyed, Guardiola knew that negotiating transfers was all about haggling. If his first offer was accepted immediately, he'd actually be suspicious, wondering if there was something wrong with the player or if he had misjudged.
Raising his offer by 5 million euros, Guardiola submitted a second bid of 35 million euros for Sane. This time, Schalke 04's response changed. They no longer talked about Sane being "not for sale." However, Manchester City's reputation as wealthy spenders had been cemented over the past few years. Many European clubs had an unwritten rule to raise their asking prices when dealing with Manchester City, seeing them as an opportunity to cash in.
Schalke 04 then demanded 40 million euros and a 20% sell-on clause for Sane's future transfer fees, essentially opening the floodgates. Sane had talent, but he was only 19. Whether he could fully realize his potential was uncertain. If Sane didn't perform well at Manchester City, it would be a significant financial loss.
Feeling insulted by Schalke's terms, Guardiola decided not to pursue Sane further and started looking for other players.
"What's the matter? Encountering obstacles in the transfer market?" Lin Quan asked, noticing Guardiola's frustration.
"Why does everyone treat us like idiots with too much money, thinking we are foolish?" Guardiola felt exasperated remembering Schalke 04's demands. While the 40 million euro price tag was over budget, Manchester City could afford it. But the additional sell-on clause felt like an insult, making him feel like they were being played for fools.
Lin Quan couldn't help but laugh, "We kind of are the rich fools, aren't we?" Guardiola seemed to forget that Manchester City was not like the traditional top clubs with deep roots like Barcelona.
Manchester City had indeed gained their current status by spending more money than other clubs, especially when they couldn't attract top players. Now, their notoriety for having deep pockets meant clubs hiked prices when selling to them. Even Arsène Wenger had once remarked that clubs automatically increased their prices by 50% when dealing with English teams. Although Wenger's statement partly justified his reluctance to spend, it highlighted the disadvantage English clubs faced in the transfer market.
Take Paul Pogba for example. If Real Madrid or Barcelona had been the buyers, the transfer fee would have been no more than 80 million euros, rather than the 105 million euros Manchester United paid.
Not getting Sane wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Lin Quan had never been impressed by him. While Sane had undeniable talent, his style didn't fit well with Manchester City, or more precisely, Guardiola's Manchester City. Guardiola preferred players who were efficient, obedient, and disciplined both on and off the pitch. Sane, on the other hand, was known for his lack of dedication, his tendency to hold onto the ball too long, and sometimes prioritizing personal glory over team efficiency. This often disrupted the team's attacking flow. Later, Guardiola preferred using Raheem Sterling over Sane, showcasing his disappointment with Sane.
Compared to the carefree Sane, Lin Quan thought of another talented and diligent player—Leverkusen's Son Heung-min. "What about this winger from Leverkusen?" Lin Quan suggested, showing Son Heung-min's highlights to Guardiola.
Taking Lin Quan's recommendation seriously, Guardiola watched the footage intently and commented, "This guy is fast, great for quick counterattacks, but his ability in positional play is weaker, and his footwork isn't particularly exceptional."
Guardiola's assessment was accurate. Son wasn't a top-tier player, but players with distinct characteristics, if used correctly, could be highly effective in certain tactical setups. Otherwise, he wouldn't have won the Premier League Golden Boot.
"You're not looking for a starter. If you're buying him as a backup, I think he'll do. Having a fast winger on the bench could be crucial against teams that press high." Lin Quan noted that Guardiola's standards were quite high, likely influenced by watching performances of elite players like Messi and himself.
"Alright, let's go with your suggestion," Guardiola agreed.
Manchester City then offered 30 million euros for Son Heung-min, which Leverkusen accepted. After securing Son, Guardiola turned his attention to another target—Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus. City made an initial offer of 65 million euros for Reus, hoping to further strengthen their squad.
Originally intended as a backup, Guardiola felt relieved about signing Son Heung-min. Soon, Manchester City made a 30 million euro offer to Bayer Leverkusen for him. Compared to Sane, Son Heung-min, at 23 years old, was already in his prime. He could immediately integrate into the team and provide instant impact. However, given the mixed track record of Asian players in Europe's top leagues, this transaction came with its risks.
Despite notable players like Shinji Kagawa, Park Ji-sung, Hidetoshi Nakata, and Keisuke Honda emerging from Asia, the overall recognition of Asian players' prowess in Europe was still lacking. This was reflected in transfer fees, with the highest ever fee for an Asian player being Nakata's 18.5 million pounds, a record that had stood for 15 years.
When Leverkusen received the offer, they hardly hesitated before accepting, fearing Manchester City might change their mind if they delayed. Little did they know that another English club had also set their sights on Son Heung-min — Tottenham Hotspur.
"What? Son Heung-min has been bought by Manchester City?" Tottenham's chairman, Daniel Levy, was frustrated to learn that his target had already been signed by their league rivals, Manchester City.
"Damn Manchester City! Why do they have to steal our targets? There are plenty of good wingers in the Bundesliga!" Levy fumed.
Without securing a suitable winger, Tottenham would have to rely heavily on Harry Kane for the upcoming season. With Manchester United and Liverpool continually bolstering their squads and Manchester City's champion lineup, Levy doubted his team's chances of contending.
Having secured Son Heung-min, Guardiola was in a great mood and considered using the remaining budget to acquire more talent. This time, he targeted Marco Reus.
After the departures of Mario Götze and Robert Lewandowski, Reus had become the centerpiece of Borussia Dortmund. Injuries had plagued him the previous season, preventing him from helping Dortmund stay out of the relegation zone.
Guardiola admired Reus since his time at Bayern Munich and had once considered buying him. Unfortunately, Reus's deep attachment to Dortmund made him reluctant to leave. But with Klopp's departure and Dortmund's uncertain future, staying might not be the best option for Reus. Constantly pushing his limits could worsen his injury situation, potentially ruining his career.
Guardiola felt that Reus's talent and admirable character were being wasted at Dortmund. He didn't want to see such a gifted player fail to reach his potential due to various circumstances. Thus, after signing Son Heung-min, Guardiola offered 65 million euros to Dortmund for Reus.
Though Manchester City's forward positions were well-staffed, Guardiola planned to give Reus time to recover fully from his injuries, allowing him to regain top form.
When Dortmund received Manchester City's offer, they hesitated. Ideally, they should refuse the offer, needing a figure like Reus to lead and inspire the team through challenging times. Reus, a youth academy graduate and loyal player, was adored by Dortmund fans for his efforts and dedication on the pitch, making him an ideal leader for the club.
However, forcing Reus to stay might not be in his best interest. With Klopp gone and the club facing an uncertain future, Dortmund worried about falling back into mediocrity. Reus deserved to showcase his talents on a bigger stage, be it at Barcelona, Real Madrid, or Manchester City. If Reus was open to leaving and the transfer fee provided a significant boost for Dortmund's rebuilding efforts, the club would support the move.
Dortmund decided to consult Reus about the offer. They wouldn't force him to leave if he wasn't willing.
"What? Manchester City wants to buy me?" Reus was surprised when notified by the club. Having already renewed his contract, he wondered why another club would bid for him. Didn't they know his contract extension meant he wasn't planning to leave?
Wait, Manchester City? Could it be that someone there wanted him to join and fight alongside them? Thoughts raced through Reus's mind.
Friends, if you liked the novel, you can buy it on my p*treon
use this code: 102024, you can save up to 30% off. The promotion ends today, October 31st