First up on the most wanted list was someone to fill that right back position, if Sagna was to get injured there was no one to take over from him in the whole squad. An ideal candidate would be Micah Richards but he was an asset at Liverpool and would have more then doubled his value to £60 million before I was allowed to speak to him. I then approached Dani Alves, who had become unsettled at Stamford Bridge so I thought I could see a bargain on the cards a £30 million bid would be more then enough for the Brazilian god who wanted out, but Chelsea didn’t want less then £73 million a huge hike up, but even when Dani complained to the Chelsea bosses they showed him that no one was bigger then the club. Much to the disgust of the fans I started sniffing round at White Heart Lane after another Manchester City starlet. Onuoha had made the move to London 3 years ago in a £10 million move, it was hard slogging try to negotiate with the bitter rivals and they weren’t willing to give me any discounts and it wasn’t until the final day of the window I was able to secure a right back. Onuoha finally signed for a shocking £23 million, but I got desperate and had to pay up. Barragan was another player I made a late move for, after paying just over £500k for him last time when I took him to Liverpool I paid £19.75 million to secure him at Arsenal to complete my right backs, towards the end of the window of opportunity I did make frantic bids for many right backs just to secure a player in the position looking at Ryan Taylor who was playing for Valencia and Milan’s Zaccardo.
Bids quickly came in for Clichy from the likes of AC Milan and Barcelona which I negotiated to around £24 million but Gael was reluctant to leave rejecting contacts at both clubs. It wasn’t until Boothroyd the now Liverpool manager came in looking for his services that he accepted, but it was another £24 million to add to my bank which I splashed out on Mexican Esparza. The former Chivas player was now playing for Newcastle and traveled the length of the country for £19 million. He looks a fantastic players, with great statics across the board and a natural in many different position on the field, the total utility player and only 24. While I was at White Heart Lane trying to tempt Nedum I seen another African born players who looked like a good addition in Tawio, but Spurs again were not going to let there players go to the Emirate on the cheap and priced me out of the market. Attempts for Pasqual also failed and I have been left with only two guys down the left. As for in the centre of defense I was happy with it really I brought in an ageing Delpierre from Munich for £7.5 million to act as backup and tried to tempt an amazing Criscito from Juventus but they deemed £26 million not enough and with other position yet to fill I wasn’t going any higher.
A player that I had been looking at for a long time to bring to Liverpool was Giles Barnes who had been playing well on the right side of Midfield in a strong Derby setup. I continued my pursuit for Giles while at Arsenal tabling £15 million for him which was quickly accepted to bring him to the club and completing that side of the midfield. On the opposite side I didn’t see the need for anyone new when Downing and Silva were more then capable. So it was onto the the centre of midfield where I needed a player most to play the defensive midfield role. I turned again to players I had worked with in my Liverpool days Banega wasn’t favoured at Anfield after I left and as a result had attracted attention from other sides, a £5 million bid was enough to secure Banega. I also opted for Alou Diarra to help make up the numbers if Banega was to find himself injured which in my first season with Liverpool he managed more time on the injury table rather then on the pitch.
The most expensive buy of the season was naturally the striker who arrived at the club for £27 million, I wanted a proven goalscorer at the peak age of 26 to 28. I looked around and noticed a Southampton player who had single handedly managed to promote their team to the Premiership and then once there finished the top goalscorer in the league keeping them in the top flight. One Giorgos Samaras who in real life for City couldn’t buy a goal and indeed for City in the game only scored 5 goals in three years. Hopefully while playing in the Emirates he can show his Southampton side and not the City side.
A total of £132 million spent on players, I better deliver, after messing round with the side so much in the first season it will take some time to gel so I am not expecting too much too soon. But once settled I hope to dominate the league and bring a trophy back to North London.