There were many teams interested in Wood, but not many that could make Tang En nervous.
Could anyone imagine George Wood, who was the main force in Forest, going to a team that was at the bottom of the league?
In the past, there were many clubs that asked for a price like this. There was even an English Football League Championship team that asked if they could loan Wood! Tang En felt that they really should have their IQ checked first before talking to him about Wood.
However, on the morning of the 3rd of January, Nottingham Forest Football Club received two offers from different clubs at the same time. This forced Evan Doughty to call Tang En out of his bed at home to the club. Allan also came with him, and the three of them gathered to discuss the two offers.
Evan sat behind his desk. There were two faxes on his boss's desk. One had the Manchester United team logo printed on it, and the other had the Chelsea logo.
"Tony, have their people contacted Wood?" Allan asked Tang En.
Tang En shook his head. "I don't think so … but I can't be sure. After all, I don't keep an eye on him 24/7."
"Tony, what do you think?" Evan looked at Tang En.
"Reject it," Tang En answered without hesitation. "I won't sell it no matter how much they offer."
Manchester United's offer was four million pounds. For the stingy Manchester United board of directors, this was considered a significant investment.
The rich and imposing Chelsea was even more exaggerated. At this time, Abramovich had not realized how foolish he was to throw away so much money. He continued his strategy of burning money to buy players — ten million!
It must be said that a businessman like Evan Doughty was stunned when he first saw Chelsea's offer. In the English Premier League, George Wood was still a newcomer. He was only praised by the media because of his steady play and a beautiful, crucial goal against Manchester United. He was the owner of the Forest Football Club. He knew the real price of his players was definitely not ten million.
He thought that Abramovich and Mourinho did not seem like fools. So what did it mean for a new defensive midfielder to ask for ten million?
Tang En lit a cigarette, took a drag, and shrugged. "We can understand this as a show off, or a demonstration. The Russians are using this to tell us that there are no players they can't buy. Last season, Chelsea finished second, and they spent 110 million pounds on it. They were currently in second place this season and had already spent $89 million in the summer. Take a closer look at the price they pay. It's higher than the market price, and they always manage to buy the players they want. "
Evan and Allan might not fully understand the spending methods of the Russian tycoon and his subordinate, Mourinho, but Tang En, who had been there before, knew it very well.
In the 2004-05 season, Mourinho's Chelsea won their club's first league title in 50 years and created a series of records. The title was built on the foundation of Ranie's 110 million pounds and then won by Mourinho's 89 million pounds. It was the most "expensive" title in the history of the Premier League.
When Chelsea won the league title, Abramovich had been in the Chelsea Football Club for 670 days, during which he invested 683.4 million pounds and spent more than one million a day on average! In 2004, Chelsea's annual financial loss was as high as 87.8 million pounds, which had already set a new record in world football. But just a year later, Mourinho increased the figure by 60%! A staggering 140 million pounds!
In the football world, which club dared to compete with Chelsea in burning money? Even Real Madrid did not have such boldness.
Countless clubs had experienced Chelsea's extravagant behavior and all raised their hands in surrender in front of the Ruble army. Look at the names in the following list and the clubs they used to belong to:
Drogba for 24 million, Carvalho for 19 million, Ferreira for 13 million, Robben for 12 million, Tiago for 8 million, Cech for 7 million, Kezman for 5 million, Del Horno for 8 million, Wright-Phillips for 21 million, Essien for 24 million …
Before the Russian took over at Stamford Bridge, the English football world had little concept of spending a lot of money. The total investment of Arsenal, who had won the Premier League title three times, was only 39 million in three seasons. Mourinho's Chelsea only spent 53 million in the lowest season.
This was the earth-shattering change that a Russian had brought to the Premier League. Now everyone had tacitly agreed to the "championship rule" of "no money, no champion." If you wanted to win the title, you had to spend a lot of money. Teams that could not bear to spend money were bound to be ruthlessly eliminated. This was the football version of Darwinism.
"They think that no matter how much we value Wood, as long as they offer a high price that we can't imagine, we will not hesitate to accept it." Twain spread his hands. That was indeed what Abramovich thought in the first few years when he first took over at Chelsea.
Allan listened to Twain's words and pondered for a moment. Then he looked up at Evan and Twain. "That's right. Now in front of us is a multiple-choice question. Ten million or George Wood, which do we choose? "
Manchester United had been automatically ignored by them. Four million to buy Wood? There was no need to even discuss it.
"I don't think it's a multiple-choice question, Allan." Twain shook his head. "Although I also think there is nothing in this world that money can't buy. Those that can't be bought are only because the asking price is not high enough. But I think I set a price for Wood that the Russians can't afford. "
Evan smiled. "I'm very interested to hear your price for Wood, Tony."
Twain nodded. "That's good too. Chelsea's offer has reminded me to hold a press conference to specifically address the clubs that have been harassing us and make a statement."
Allan still seemed a little hesitant. After all, he was in charge of the club's finances. Ten million was indeed not a small sum for the current Forest team.
Evan did not immediately answer Twain. He was considering it like Allan.
Twain knew that they would definitely be hesitant. After all, this offer … Well, from an objective point of view, Twain thought it was completely worth it. But he could not look at this offer objectively. He had personally groomed Wood. To buy him for just ten million? Mr. Abramovich, you're underestimating me too much!
Evan thought of what Twain had said to him in the alley in Wilford when he told Tony that he had sold Michael Dawson and Reed.
Now that the team was moving up and Wood had just been elected as the team's best newcomer, it would be a pity to sell him for just ten million. So, he nodded. "Wood is a new star that we've groomed ourselves. Considering the team's image and results, I don't agree to sell him."
Since neither of them agreed to sell, Allan had no need to insist, so he nodded.
Just like that, the Nottingham Forest Football Club held a small press conference that afternoon. Even though it was a small press conference, there were quite a number of media present. Everyone knew that Chelsea had just made a ten million offer for Nottingham Forest's George Wood.
For a relatively popular figure, his every move and any information about him could attract the attention of the masses. Countless reporters swarmed into the small City Ground stadium conference hall, filling the room to the brim.
At the conference, Twain smiled at the reporters and gave the Nottingham Forest Football Club's official response to the transfer request.
"… I've never said that George Wood is not for sale, and I won't say that in the future."
The reporters were overjoyed. Could there be a chance of this deal?
"As long as there's a club that can offer us a price that we think is right, we can take Wood away from the City Ground stadium."
It was indeed so! The reporters got excited and were all eager to raise their hands to push this topic to the top.
"May I ask, Mr. Twain, how much exactly is George Wood's worth?" There were already reporters who could not wait to stand up and ask.
"George Wood's worth is what the United Kingdom's GDP was last year." Twain answered the reporter's question with a smile.
As soon as he said that, not only all the reporters present, but even Evan and Allan, who were sitting next to Twain, were stunned.
Although the British government had yet to release last year's GDP figures, judging from the data and growth rates of the first three quarters, the year that had just passed should not be less than two trillion US dollars.
Two … billion?!
Allan and Evan, who reacted, looked at each other. This price … was really not something that Mr. Abramovich could afford.
The press conference blew up. The reporters scrambled to raise their hands. There were even people who directly sat in their chairs and asked loudly, "Mr. Twain, are you joking?"
"No, I'm serious. George Wood is worth this price. I'll allow whoever can afford it to leave. But if they can't, then don't come back to make another offer. It's just a waste of everyone's time. In addition, Nottingham Forest does not accept payment in installments or by the players. This is the official attitude of the Forest Football Club. "
Like an auctioneer in an auction house, Twain made the final decision.
(To be continued, if you want to know what happens next, please log on to WWW. CMFU. com. More chapters. Support the author. Support original reading!)
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