Chapter 65 The Chosen Son
Yang Cheng shouted for 7 million pounds. Jonathan Barnett laughed on the spot and said it was impossible.
But Yang Cheng still insisted.
The cunning agent naturally caught what Yang Cheng meant.
So, without being verbose, he immediately conveyed the news to Everton after leaving Bayswater Chinese.
What happened next, Yang Cheng didn't know.
But he began to make preparations.
If Everton is scared off, that would be the most ideal result.
If the Toffees continue to bargain, it proves that they are determined to get Joe Hart.
Because the transfer market will be closed during the winter break.
No time.
While Everton was hesitating, Yang Cheng studied Manuel Neuer.
The German goalkeeper will not turn 19 until March 27.
As Yang Cheng expected, he has not yet signed a professional contract with Schalke 04.
Sometimes, successful stars really need some luck in addition to their own strength.
Neuer is the kind of chosen one who is full of luck.
The early stages of his career were not smooth, and he was always stumbling.
Schalke 04's youth training is very good and there are many talents. Neuer has never been able to wait for the call of the first team.
In January 2006, he had even signed an agreement with Cologne, which was in the Bundesliga 2 at the time, and drafted transfer documents.
But at this moment, Schalke 04’s second goalkeeper Christopher Hemmerroth suddenly decided to transfer to Monchengladbach for 750,000 euros.
Therefore, Schalke 04 decided to keep Neuer as the second goalkeeper.
What is even more unexpected is that just half a year later, Frank Rost, who joined Schalke 04 for a record transfer fee of 8 million euros in the Bundesliga, had an argument with his teammate Bernisch during training. Top collision.
Both players suffered tibia injuries. Rost received 8 stitches and will be absent for some time.
Neuer seized this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and made a splash at Schalke 04, establishing a firm foothold.
If you are a fan from 2024, you will definitely feel familiar when you see this experience.
That's right.
Before the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Neuer's routine of counterattacking the then German main goalkeeper Adler was exactly the same.
These are critical moments, competitors are injured, and Neuer successfully counterattacks.
This is not the Chosen One, what is it?
God helped us at both critical moments.
Of course, it is undeniable that Neuer was able to seize opportunities at critical moments, thanks to his own super strength.
But what if there is no such luck?
Neuer will certainly not be buried, but there may be more wasted time.
Just like now.
Neuer, who is about to turn 19, was selected for the German U19 national team, but he is not the main player in this national team.
He has a very strong competitor.
Florian Fromlowitz from Kaiserslautern.
And Yang Cheng investigated the current lineup configuration of Schalke 04.
Neuer is currently training with the Schalke 04 second team, but he actually played in the Schalke 04 U19 team.
Even in the U19, Neuer is not the absolute main player. He and Dennis Ramsik play about the same time.
And in this season's German A-level U19 Western League, Neuer had a bad start.
In the first 6 games he played this season, he conceded 10 goals.
After being replaced by Ramsik for a few games in the middle, his performance began to get better, with consecutive clean sheets.
But even if Neuer stands out from the U19 and reaches Schalke 04's second team, he will still face fierce competition.
21-year-old Turkish goalkeepers Walken Anyu and 20-year-old Manuel Lenz.
Further up are first-teamers Frank Rossiter and Christopher Hemmerroth.
Judging from the current Schalke 04 goalkeeper rankings, Neuer has not played even one minute in the second team.
At least he has to be ranked 5th.
As for his local youth training status, everyone else basically has the same.
Except Frank Rossiter, who is now the absolute main force.
In this case, Yang Cheng knew how to deal with Neuer.
……
Everton’s response was very swift.
Because they have to race against time.
Another offer was handed to Yang Cheng, 4 million pounds.
However, Yang Cheng instructed Lin Zhongqiu to insist on paying 7 million pounds and not let go.
As long as Everton is willing to counter-offer, it proves the sincerity of the Toffees.
Of course, at the same price, they can also choose other players or rent them out.
Yang Cheng is happy for them to be like this.
But Everton’s general manager Michael Danfort personally went south, showing a determination to win.
Accompanied by Lin Zhongqiu, Yang Cheng met with Michael Danfort and his agent Jonathan Barnett at a hotel in Hyde Park South and had a meal.
The two parties still failed to negotiate a mutually acceptable price.
Everyone knows that they are playing a game with each other, and the bet is on psychology.
Yang Cheng will not let go easily. Once he does, he will knock off the transfer.
That night, Everton once again raised the price to 4.5 million pounds.
Yang Cheng gave in slightly, with 6.5 million pounds.
There is still a gap of 2 million pounds between them.
This is not small.
That night, Yang Cheng called Xia Qingliao, told her all the situation overnight, and entrusted her to continue negotiations with Lin Zhongqiu on his behalf.
The next day, he flew from London to Dusseldorf, Germany, accompanied by Mike Rieger, chief talent officer of the youth academy.
The two drove directly north from Dusseldorf to Gelsenkirchen, 40 kilometers away.
After the Bundesliga experienced its golden period at the end of the last century, with the bankruptcy of the Kirsch Group, broadcast fees plummeted. All clubs were in a very difficult situation, and it was common for them to be heavily in debt.
Bayern also seized this opportunity and turned the entire Bundesliga into their rear area.
The same is true for Schalke 04.
For a young player who has performed well but has not played a minute in the second team and has not even signed a professional contract, Schalke 04 will not take it to heart at all.
Yang Cheng's approach can be regarded as being polite first and then attacking. He did not directly contact the players and started poaching them.
Otherwise, you probably won’t have to pay a penny.
Of course, the result may be that Schalke 04 sues UEFA and pays a youth training fee. Yang Cheng didn't want to do such a thing, it was too bad of character.
He directly approached Schalke 04 and expressed his willingness to pay a sum of money to buy the player who had not yet signed a professional contract.
Schalke 04 was also very forthcoming and gave a reasonable price.
500,000 pounds.
Approximately equal to 750,000 euros.
Subsequently, Yang Cheng obtained the contact information of Neuer and his agent Thomas Clotte from Schalke 04.
That night, the four met in a hotel in Gelsenkirchen.
…
“I’ve heard of you.”
Although he is not yet 19 years old, the feeling that Manuel Neuer gives Yang Cheng is the same as when he coached Bayern in his previous life. almost.
His character has always been like this.
This is actually a good thing for Yang Cheng.
With Neuer's character, he will not be willing to surrender to the Schalke 04 youth team.
“You just eliminated Manchester United in the League Cup semi-finals, and our media here also reported it.”
Yang Cheng smiled and glanced at his agent Thomas. Clotte.
Thomas Clotte is a professional player and has played for Cologne, Frankfurt, Hannover and Dortmund.
After retiring, he transformed into an agent.
Now that Neuer and others have heard about it, many things will be easier to handle.
Yang Cheng also got straight to the point and explained the current situation faced by the Chinese in Bayswater.
“It was the League Cup semi-final that made us famous in Europe, which caused us to lose our main goalkeeper.”
Yang Cheng could directly talk to Neuer and Thomas K. in German. Lot exchange.
This made Mike Rigg on the side stunned for a while.
He really didn't expect that his little boss would have such ability.
"I trained Joe Hart for 2 years, and also hired a very good goalkeeper coach from Spain with a lot of money."
Speaking of this, Yang Cheng praised himself again This right-hand man.
Dutch goalkeeper coach Frank Houck followed Van Gaal to Spain to coach and helped the Spanish Football Association reform goalkeeper training. This has resulted in the emergence of Spanish goalkeeper talents in recent years.
Germany is also rich in goalkeepers, but German football is closely related to Dutch football, and there are many similarities in the training of young players.
On the contrary, Italy, the way they train goalkeepers and the way they usually train goalkeepers are very different from the Netherlands and Spain.
This is why Edwin van der Sar was uncomfortable joining Juventus.
Yang Cheng told Neuer that if he is willing to join Bayswater Chinese, in addition to language and life, there will be no problems in football training and competition.
“What I can guarantee is that after Joe Hart’s transfer, you will be our team’s first goalkeeper. If you are ready, you can even represent our team and play on February 5th. , playing at home against Derby County in the Championship. "
"In addition, I can also assure you that we will be promoted to the Premier League this season and will most likely participate in next year's UEFA Cup. He will also be the main goalkeeper of our team.”
Yang Cheng's biggest bargaining chip is that Schalke 04 simply cannot give him a chance to play.
In the League Cup semi-finals, Chelsea eliminated Liverpool and reached the final.
Chelsea is currently ranked first in the Premier League and has a high probability of winning the championship and participating in the Champions League next season.
If the Bayswater Chinese can defeat Chelsea in the League Cup final, the team will be able to participate in the UEFA Cup next season.
Yang Cheng could clearly see the heartbeat reflected in Neuer's eyes.
If you stay at Schalke 04 and face competition from many youth teammates, when will you be able to stand out?
Yang Cheng's confidence comes from his understanding of Neuer in his previous life and the strength of the German goalkeeper.
As soon as he debuted, he overwhelmed German first-line goalkeepers like Frank Rost and was unable to make a comeback, and was forced to leave his team.
That speaks for itself.
"Manuel, you have to believe in yourself and never just wait for a call from the first team. You can have better choices."
Yang Cheng's words completely shook Neuer.
The German goalkeeper immediately turned to look at his agent.
Thomas Clotte nodded slightly.
He had to admit that Yang Cheng's promise was very attractive to Neuer.
The only risk is whether Neuer can adapt to life and football in England.
But judging from Neuer's personality, it shouldn't be a big problem.
Staying at Schalke 04, I don’t even know when I will get a professional contract.
Go to Bayswater Chinese, not only sign a professional contract immediately, but also get more first-team playing time, and even play in the Premier League and UEFA Cup next season.
Anyone would probably know how to choose.
“I have two questions.” Thomas Clotte was still more cautious.
"Say."
"According to what you said, Joe Hart may transfer to Everton, but what if the transfer fails?"
Yang Cheng nodded, This officially enters the topic.
“I can guarantee that we will give both men equal opportunities to compete and promise Manuel’s playing time, and even if Joe Hart doesn’t leave now, we will consider selling him in the summer.”< br>
Since he has decided to leave, there is no need for Yang Cheng to stay any longer.
There’s no point in keeping it.
It is better to focus on cultivating Neuer.
As for local players, Yang Cheng has no shortage of them.
Thomas Clotte and Neuer are obviously very satisfied with Yang Cheng's answer.
“Second question, why do you fall in love with Manuel?”
This is their biggest concern.
Why me?
Yang Cheng was also prepared.
"Do you still remember that in mid-September last year, Germany U19 played two friendly matches with Spain, the U19 European Youth Championship champion?"
"Of course I remember." Neuer replied .
"You played the whole game in the first game, but it wasn't you in the second game. At that time, I was inspecting Spain's core midfielder, David Silva, and I saw your performance."
Neuer frowned when he heard this, "But we lost 0-2 in that game."
Because of this, he lost his main position.
“When examining a player, you can’t just look at the results of the game. I think from a process perspective, you as a goalkeeper meet my requirements very well. I like this characteristic of yours, and it’s what we need.”
At this moment, neither Neuer nor Thomas Clotte had any doubts.
Neuer even began to look forward to the future.
Sorry, there was a mistake about the qualifications for the UEFA Cup. I wrote it down at the time without paying attention to the details. Thanks to the book friend for discovering and pointing it out, it has been corrected.
(End of this chapter)