Chapter 1 Chen Yingxiong Is Busy Siphoning Money

While Chen Yingxiong was busy siphoning money from all directions, Liverpool's general manager, Neong, wasn't idle either.

Although there wasn't a need for a major overhaul of the team's lineup this summer, his work wasn't easy at all.

He still needed to fly around the world, searching for people to join the team in order to enhance its overall strength.

After the test of last season, it proved that the team's main lineup was very strong, and it also proved that the move to thicken the bench strength last summer was correct. Because if they hadn't strengthened the team's substitute strength, the team simply wouldn't have been able to survive last year's multi-line battle.

And in the new season, if the team still wants to win all the championships, it is imperative to further strengthen the bench depth.

At the same time, Neong wouldn't let go of any players with enough strength to play as a starter in the first team. As long as the price is right, everything is negotiable.

Liverpool's new stadium, Stanley Park Stadium, officially started construction last season. The new stadium project is like a money-sucking black hole, constantly absorbing Liverpool's funds.

As the club's chief steward, Neong naturally had to save a little.

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On the defensive end, Uruguayan center-back Coates, because he has never been trusted by Martin O'Neill, after being loaned out for a season, submitted an application to the club hoping to be officially transferred away.

The club got O'Neill's consent and gave the green light to Coates' departure.

If Coates leaves, Liverpool will only have three true center-backs in the squad, namely Agger, Skrtel, and Pepe, so the team needs to replenish its backup strength. Especially considering that next season's schedule will be more intensive and the games will be more frequent, Martin O'Neill is not just satisfied with letting them play as substitutes in the center-back position. He wants to buy not substitutes for emergencies, but rotation players who can play at any time and be the main force.

Four regular rotation center-backs, a total of twelve combinations, is enough to cope with all situations, unless Liverpool encounters large-scale injuries in the center-back position, otherwise there is no need to worry about the center-back selection.

In the left-back position, the team's main player is currently Jose Enrique. Santon, a defender who can play on both the left and right sides, is a substitute. Santon's ability is not as good as when he debuted at Inter Milan. Being a substitute is a good substitute, but letting him play as the main player is a bit beyond his ability. Now the situation is that Martin O'Neill believes that Jose Enrique's strength is gradually unable to keep up with the team's requirements. When Liverpool was just a team competing for the top four in the Premier League, Enrique was an excellent left-back. But he is already old. He will be thirty years old at the beginning of next year. As a full-back who relies on physical fitness, aging means a decline in physical fitness.

At the same time, because Santon cannot pose a threat to Enrique, Enrique will inevitably have some slack mentality. After all, not every player is like Chen Yingxiong, who is "insatiable" for honors and championships. Last season's huge success is enough to satisfy many players, lose the motivation to continue fighting, and lie on the merit book and sleep soundly.

The most typical example is the Italian giant Inter Milan. Under the leadership of Mourinho, they won the treble in the 2009-2010 season, sweeping all the championships. This is a remarkable achievement. At that time, many European media said that European football would return to the "Greater Inter Era". I believe that many Inter Milan fans were also looking forward to it at that time.

But the reality is cruel.

When Mourinho left Inter Milan and went to Real Madrid to pursue a broader stage, Inter Milan suddenly lost the motivation to fight.

They began to focus on infighting, fighting with teammates, fighting with the club, and fighting with the head coach.

They held the glory of the treble and lived off their past achievements, and they have been doing so until now. Inter Milan is still constantly consuming itself. Where is there any trace of the "Greater Inter" style?

Taking history as a mirror, Neong wants to prevent his team from having the same problems as Inter Milan. He will ruthlessly clean up any players who plan to lie on their laurels and live off their past achievements.

Yes, what he and Martin O'Neill discussed before was that there was no need to clean up players, but that was if it was not necessary. If necessary, he doesn't mind letting those players see how sharp his butcher knife is.

In order to prevent Jose Enrique from losing motivation, and also to find a suitable replacement for Jose Enrique, a suitable player is still needed at the left-back position, and not a substitute player of Santon's level.

In the midfield, the team plans to deal with Charlie Adam, but they do not plan to introduce any new players, but instead recall Shelvey, who has been loaned out for training, to the first team. Next season, he will participate in the competition as a regular player in the first team.

In the midfield, Liverpool's strength is still very strong. In the center, they have Lucas, Inler, Shelvey, Gerrard, and Gotze.

That is to say, there are not enough wingers.

The real wingers are only Gareth Bale, Sanchez, Adam Johnson, and Michael Kelly.

There are more games next season, and it is really not safe to rely on these four people alone, not to mention what if they get injured, it would be a disaster for the team...

The forward line is the least in need of reinforcements.

Not only is there no need to replenish, but it may also be necessary to clean up redundant players.

For example, Klasnic will leave the team. It is really too tragic to be Chen Yingxiong's substitute at Liverpool. This person does not even let go of the League Cup, a chicken rib competition. It is almost impossible for Klasnic to get a chance to play - he did not play a single game in the team last season, and he was not injured or sick. It is quite rare that he did not participate in a minute of the game.

Even if he can get more honors at Liverpool, it is useless. Because he doesn't have enough appearances, he doesn't even have a Premier League gold medal.

Therefore, Klasnic plans to find a team where he can play games in the twilight of his career. It doesn't matter how much money he earns, and he doesn't care about honors. At this point, it's good to be able to play football. Why consider so much?

With Chen Yingxiong, Liverpool almost doesn't need to buy strikers. Not only that, the best place for those forwards in the reserve team and youth team is to transfer away from Liverpool and go to a team where they can play games.

If Suarez didn't have a good relationship with Chen Yingxiong, Liverpool might have even sold Suarez, and Chen Yingxiong alone would be enough.

Even if Suarez recovers from his injury next season, he may not be able to guarantee a starting appearance in every game. After all, in the second half of this season, Liverpool's 4231 formation has achieved great success in his absence, and Martin O'Neill is very likely to continue this formation's tactics.

The quota saved on the forward line can be added to the defense line.

In order to replenish the strength in these areas, Neong has to become an air commuter again.

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Neong started by looking for a center-back candidate.

He already has a target, that is, Italian international Salvatore Bocchetti.

This twenty-nine-year-old center-back is at the peak of his career, with rich experience. Although he is not tall, his excellent jumping ability completely makes up for this shortcoming.

Accurate positioning, tenacious and fierce style, coupled with the fact that he is an Italian defender, possessing defensive genes, is completely his racial talent.

In addition, Bocchetti has another advantage - his language talent. He speaks fluent English and Spanish, and his experience playing in Russia also allows him to speak Russian.

Such a language genius coming to Liverpool, at least there will be no language problems.

So Neong is very interested in this center-back currently playing for Fiorentina.

And plans to bring him to Liverpool.

He will form a four-person center-back lineup with Skrtel, Agger, and Pepe, rotating for a long time.

But it is not easy to take Bocchetti away from Fiorentina, because Bocchetti is Fiorentina's main center-back.

But Neong has his ways.

Coates, who has been making trouble about wanting to transfer, can finally come in handy.

Isn't Fiorentina worried that letting Bocchetti go will affect the defensive quality of their team?

It doesn't matter, we Liverpool will take away one of your center-backs and then send you another center-back!

Look how concerned we are about our customers...

In fact, Coates' level is very good. He is also a Uruguayan international... It's mainly that our coach Martin O'Neill doesn't trust him... So he doesn't have a chance to play at Liverpool. Although I am a club manager, I also respect the coach's wishes.

Therefore, I will reluctantly part with Coates and give him to you...

In short, your Fiorentina has not lost anything and has taken advantage. We Liverpool are completely Huo Lei Feng! (living Lei Feng, meaning selfless helper)

As for Bocchetti's own wishes, there is almost no suspense.

Liverpool is the most popular team in European football last season. Like Barcelona back then, with a monster like Chen Yingxiong, the championship is guaranteed.

Who wouldn't want to go to this team to gain experience? After going in for a while, you will be covered in honors.

Winning the championship is almost the goal of all professional players. This transfer is equivalent to giving Bocchetti a great fortune. Could he not come?

Besides, he has a very close personal relationship with Napoli defender Criscito.

And Criscito has a good relationship with Chen Yingxiong. If it doesn't work, you can play the sympathy card.

Let Chen Yingxiong find Criscito, and then Criscito act as a lobbyist to persuade Bocchetti to join Liverpool, it should not be a big problem.

Anyway, Neong didn't think this deal was too difficult when he flew to Italy. He has successfully completed more difficult deals than this, so is he still afraid of a Bocchetti and Fiorentina?