After Paris Saint-Germain was removed from the list, I led England to victory!

Meanwhile, during Yan Yuan's training camp...

In the conference room at the Colney training ground, a meeting is being held to discuss the specific arrangements for Arsenal's transfers this season.

Head coach Arsène Wenger sat at the head of the conference table, his fingers habitually clasped together, his gaze sweeping over a densely packed list and several pages of financial reports behind his glasses.

The head of the scouting team and several club executives sat on either side.

The core issue of the meeting was clear: after signing Yan Yuan in a record-breaking and unexpectedly "affordable" way, securing a future striker, how should Arsenal further develop their squad for the new season?

The ample funds gave them a rare opportunity to operate.

"Alright, everyone, let's clarify the current situation," CFO Venkat spoke first, tapping on the numbers on the screen.

"Thanks to the wishes of Hoffenheim and Yan Yuan himself, our initial payment was only £3000 million. Of the £1.58 million budget originally planned for him, £1.2 million is now actually available for subsequent operations. This provides us with a very, very good opportunity."

The professor nodded slightly, satisfied with the result, he said.

"As everyone has heard, funding is no longer a major issue this season, but we must make the most of the existing funds."

This implies two directions: First, thoroughly clearing out redundant players to free up salary space and further increase the transfer fund; second, making targeted and high-quality additions based on the team's overall tactical structure.

He pushed an internal evaluation list to the center of the table.

"This is the list of players to be removed that I compiled after discussing it many times with the technical director, financial director, and assistant coaches. You can take a look at this."

Everyone in the meeting room was looking at this list:

• Mkhitaryan (midfielder/winger): His form has declined significantly due to injuries, and his salary is not low.

• Welbeck (forward): Low attendance rate and poor finishing efficiency.

• Mustafi (center-back): Lacking consistency and prone to errors.

• Wilshere (midfielder): Plagued by injuries, his form is inconsistent.

• Chambers (center-back/right-back): Inconsistent performance, intense competition for his position.

• Elneny (defensive midfielder): He plays a late role in the starting lineup and has limited contributions.

Financial Director Winkter added: "Based on their age, remaining years on their contracts, and market interest, our initial assessment is that if we can successfully transfer them, we could recoup approximately £3000 million, bringing our total available funds to close to £1.5 million."

"This goal needs to be moved forward immediately," Wenger said firmly. "We can no longer allow players who cannot provide consistent high-value contributions to the team to occupy valuable registration slots and salary budgets. Especially the salary budget."

He paused deliberately at this point, his gaze becoming even sharper.

"This is directly related to the quality and competitiveness of the players we bring in next, so the clearing out process during this window must be efficient."

The professor then proposed a strategy for adjusting the goalkeeper's position.

"Based on last season's performance and subsequent evaluation, I believe we can promote a goalkeeper from within the team."

Martinez's (Big Martin) consistency, improvement and competitive spirit during his loan spell at Getafe give us reason to give him a chance.

Therefore, in the new season, I plan to promote Martinez to the first-choice goalkeeper position. Ospina is experienced and perfectly capable and reliable as the second-choice goalkeeper. This change in position will also save us money on signing a new goalkeeper.

At the same time, Cech is not young, but he is experienced and can be temporarily put in the role of goalkeeping coach.

After the professor finished speaking, everyone nodded frequently, and the decision was widely accepted by the participants.

However, once the conversation calmed down a bit, a heavy name that couldn't be avoided was brought up—272.

Someone asked in a hesitant tone:

"Professor, regarding 272's situation... we need a more concrete plan. He's currently the highest-paid player in the team, earning £35 a week, which puts too much pressure on our entire wage structure. The most troublesome thing is that he just signed a two-year contract extension last winter transfer window..."

The atmosphere in the meeting room instantly became more tense.

Wenger frowned slightly, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table.

The situation with 272 is indeed a difficult problem.

High salaries, recently renewed contracts, and the gap between on-field contributions and expectations have put the club in a dilemma.

Terminate the contract directly? Arsenal would lose a fortune.

Terminate the contract outright, which would mean Arsenal would have to pay the player over £2000 million in compensation, resulting in a huge loss with no return, making it undoubtedly the worst possible option.

After a few seconds of silence, Wenger said decisively:

"272 must leave this summer; we can't let him occupy this salary cap and tactical position any longer."

His situation is different from others; it requires… a more proactive approach.” He looked at the sporting director in charge of player transfers.

"We need to take the initiative and use all possible channels and connections to contact potential downstream partners."

Even if it means paying part of his salary or a small agent's commission to facilitate the transfer, it's better than keeping him or forcibly terminating his contract.

The goal is to find a buyer who can cover the majority of the contract burden; Türkiye, the Middle East, MLS, K-League, and J-League are all acceptable.

The professor's words revealed a sense of helplessness, but even more so, a determination to resolve the issue.

272 is the biggest but also the most troublesome tough nut to crack in this round of cleanup.

With the heavy expenditure issue resolved, the focus of the meeting finally shifted to the more anticipated area: recruitment.

The atmosphere at the meeting became a little more lively.

"Alright, let's put that topic aside for now. The next topic is our new transfer targets for this season."

The head of the scouting team took over, operating the projector, which displayed the names of several core targets after multiple rounds of screening.

"We need to improve the creativity and control of our midfield," Wenger stated first. "Yan Yuan's attacking ability will change the pattern of attacking play in the front, so we need a more reliable midfield engine to support him and connect the entire attack and defense."

Professor Wenger continued.

"Regarding improving midfield control and creativity, I'd like to share a goal I've identified."

Wenger pointed to a name on the screen.

Martin Ødegaard, Norwegian national, Real Madrid youth academy player, 19 years old.

He was loaned from Real Madrid to Heerenveen in the Dutch Eredivisie last season, and his stats didn't look impressive.

However, scouting reports indicate that the problems lie more in positional arrangements and incompatibility with the system.

A scout immediately picked up where the professor left off:

"Indeed, the professor's analysis is very accurate."

Heerenveen often places Odegaard on the flanks, but this is not Odegaard's core area.

His true value lies in his position as a central attacking midfielder; his excellent left-foot technique, wide vision, and surgical through balls are his most powerful weapons.

At Real Madrid, Ødegaard faced incredibly fierce competition from experienced midfield maestros like Kroos, Modric, Isco, Casemiro, and Llorente, with virtually no chance of breaking through. This presents an opportunity for us.

“That’s right,” Professor Wenger continued, “I’m confident I can train this kid well; he needs trust and the right guidance.”

Moreover, Norway is a member of the European Economic Area, so Odegaard is not involved in any work permit issues. Most importantly, the professor showed a slightly more relaxed expression.

"Real Madrid's valuation of Ødegaard will not be too high, because Ødegaard has never even appeared in a top league so far. The lack of playing time will lower his valuation, and Real Madrid is now also interested in loaning or transferring Ødegaard out."

My estimate is that around £1000 million, but no more than £1500 million, would be enough to bring him to the Emirates Stadium. That would be a good deal.

Odegaard caught the professor's attention.

Next is the second name: James Maddison – Norwich City.

The head of the scouting team said:

"This is a target we've been observing for a long time. He has exquisite technique, is left-footed, plays as an attacking midfielder or wing attacking midfielder, has excellent vision, strong set-piece ability, the ability to deliver the final pass, and long-range shooting skills."

His performance in the Championship proved his potential.

The key is that the price is relatively controllable. Norwich City's promotion failed, and they need funds to rebuild. We estimate that an agreement should be reached for around £2500 million. The scout explained in detail.

Wenger nodded slightly. This young man fit his vision of a technically gifted attacking midfielder and would be less stressed adapting to the Premier League.

The third name that pops up is Rodri Hernández – Villarreal.

"We need to improve the toughness and passing ability of the defensive midfield position, and Rodri is a discovery we have been tracking in Spain for a long time."

He is tall and strong, has excellent positional awareness, and outstanding interception ability. More importantly, he possesses the ability to control the ball under pressure, evade defenders, and accurately deliver the ball to the midfield and attacking areas—a skill not possessed by all defensive midfielders.

The scouting manager pointed to the data.

"Rodri is currently a Spanish U21 international and has already established himself as a regular starter in La Liga."

Villarreal isn't a top club, and their asking price is roughly around £2500 million; we're confident we can secure them. Work permits are also not a problem.

Wenger had watched Rodri play, and he saw him as the ideal candidate to replace the aging defensive midfielder and become the new cornerstone, a technically gifted deep-lying playmaker.

The screen then displayed the fourth target, which was likely to account for the largest portion of the budget: João Cancelo – Valencia.

"The right-back position is our obvious weakness. Bellerin's progress has slowed down and he has only just returned from injury this season. Cancelo, a Portuguese international, is good at both offense and defense. He is fast, has accurate crosses, strong assist ability, and his defense is becoming more and more solid."

Cancelo can play both left and right back; he's a versatile player, and his technical characteristics perfectly match the professor's emphasis on integrating full-backs into an attacking system.

The scout paused for a moment, then raised his voice slightly.

"But if we sign him, we'll face competition. Juventus are also very interested in Cancelo, and they've already contacted Valencia."

This will certainly trigger bidding wars, however, Valencia is in financial straits and has a strong desire to sell.

We estimate that if the club is determined to sign him, the final transfer fee will likely fall in the £4500 million range.

Although he's a bit pricey, he can completely solve the defensive toughness problem for at least five years. His work permit is also valid, and he's a key player for the Portuguese national team.

The amount made the air in the meeting room gasp slightly, but seeing the expression of approval on Wenger's face as he pondered, everyone understood that it was worth the effort for the top goal.

The final name was somewhat unexpected: 19-year-old Achraf Hakimi – still a Real Madrid youth academy player.

"Professor, this is our Plan B, or in some ways, it could be Plan A+," the scout explained.

"The bidding for Cancelo is highly competitive and expensive, and Juventus is very keen to acquire him."

We also contacted Real Madrid about the possibility of Achraf Hakimi, the young Moroccan right-back. He has outstanding physical attributes, amazing speed and explosiveness, and is very impactful. Although his technique and defensive experience are still being honed, he has great potential.

Due to Carvajal's outstanding performance at right-back in the 17-18 season, Real Madrid does not plan to include Hakimi in the first-team regular rotation this summer.

"Real Madrid originally preferred to loan him to Borussia Dortmund during the summer transfer window, and this was agreed upon with Achraf himself. However, we expressed a strong desire to loan him, and," he emphasized the most crucial point,

"We presented Real Madrid with a proposal that included an optional buy-out clause. This possibility of a 'buyout' has led Real Madrid to suspend their initial agreement with Dortmund and are seriously considering our proposal." This news sparked a buzz of excitement in the meeting room.

Acquiring such a superstar directly from Real Madrid, even if it's just a loan with a possible buyout, would be more valuable than a simple loan.

"Furthermore, Achraf holds a Spanish passport, so he doesn't need to worry about work permit requirements either," the scout continued to explain.

Professor Wenger picked up where the scout left off and said...

"Yes, if that's the case, it will save us a lot of trouble. Every cloud has a silver lining. Both Cancelo and Ashraf are excellent candidates. We will continue to advance on both fronts simultaneously."

Wenger finally finalized the strategy of loaning and buying Achraf.

Having finished discussing the topic, Wenger's gaze swept over a report on the youth team, and one name caught his eye: Bukayo Saka.

The professor wore the gentlest, even somewhat benevolent, smile of the day.

"Gentlemen, have we forgotten that we have a treasure in our own backyard?" Wenger smiled at everyone.

"Bukayo Saka, this is a young man born in 01, a year younger than Yan Yuan."

The professor flipped through Saka's statistics reports for the youth team and the reserve team.

"Look at his ability to break through and his creativity on the left wing. He has improved a lot. He performed very well in many reserve team matches last season."

The professor put down his report and quipped humorously:

"This young man named Saka is not even 18 years old yet. He does a great job on the left wing. He doesn't play selfishly and likes to help his teammates. Sometimes he is even willing to sacrifice his own goal. He is very popular in the team."

"It's time to bring him to the first team for the new season, to let him experience real competition, instead of keeping him in the greenhouse of the youth team all the time."

The professor looked around at everyone and stated his plan:

"I plan to give Saka some playing time in the new season, in cup competitions, league matches, and even on the bench for some key games, so that he can experience and grow."

If he develops quickly, I wouldn't mind promoting him directly to the first team.

Then, the professor looked into the distance, as if he could already see the scene on the training field.

"Think about it, Saka is 17 years old on the left wing," he gestured to the left, "Yan Yuan is 18 years old on the right wing," he gestured to the right.

The professor smiled and continued.

"These are two young foals, they are about the same age and have a natural affinity for each other."

Moreover, Yan Yuan has talked to me many times, and you have also seen his information and matches in Hoffenheim. He is not only good at football, but also has a good personality, is popular, and has high emotional intelligence and football intelligence.

Yan and Saka will definitely get along well. It would be perfect to have Yan mentor Saka, exchanging ideas on positioning and skills during training, and sharing experiences in daily life.

This is essentially letting a senior player mentor a junior player, and Yan is perfectly capable of doing so. At the same time, this will allow Yan to quickly build his network within the first team.

Professor Wenger even considered Yan Yuan's future at Arsenal.

By doing this, he was essentially helping Yan Yuan cultivate his own "protégés" within the team, making Yan Yuan feel a greater sense of belonging to Arsenal.

Imagine Arsenal's youth academy product, Saka, being carried to new heights by his teammate, a year older and a prodigy striker.

At least now Yan Yuan has someone in the club to speak up for him, and this person's position is convincing enough.

If Saka successfully joins the England national team in the future, then Yan Yuan will have another "one of his own" in the national team.

This is beneficial to the growth of both Yan Yuan and Saka.

The people in the conference room imagined the scene the professor described: In the new season, a pair of attacking wingers born in the 00s, known for their energy, speed and skill, suddenly appeared on Arsenal's front line.

Professor Wenger's final words were like a final, definitive statement.

"In short, money should be spent wisely, cleanup should be thorough, and repairs should be done in the right way. But more importantly, don't forget to cultivate your own seeds."

The Gunners need experience in the new season, but even more so, they need the energy and hope brought by fresh blood.

He repeated the two names.

"Yan Yuan and Saka, I'm really looking forward to seeing how these two young men perform."

At the end of the meeting, Wenger stood up and straightened his waistcoat.

"Alright, gentlemen, the direction of the transfer work has been clarified. Sanley, you should push forward the sales negotiations for the redundant players as soon as possible, and at the same time start contacting potential buyers for 272. The sooner the better."

Regarding transfer targets, Ødegaard and Rodri are relatively higher priorities, and their expected fees are also reasonable, so we can get involved in negotiations early on.

Madison is closely monitoring Norwich's situation, with both Cancelo and Ashraf on the front lines, and they need to maintain close communication and keep track of progress.

As for Saka, he will be added to the official registration list for the new season immediately.

The professor paused for a moment, then continued speaking.

"The World Cup is less than two weeks away. Ladies and gentlemen, time is of the essence. This summer transfer window, we must ensure that every decision is accurate and efficient. For the new season, for the future of Arsenal, let's get started."

"Yes, Professor."

"Understood, Professor."

Everyone readily agreed, packed up their documents, and prepared to get to work immediately.

Arsenal's rebuilding process, accompanied by the pain of a purge and the hope of new signings, has begun.

(Arsenal's regular starting lineup for the new season is as follows)

Taking the 4231 formation as an example

Goalkeeper: Martin

Defenders: Achraf Hakimi, Monreal, Kolasinac, Cancelo

Defensive midfielders: Rodri/Ramsey, Xhaka/James Maddison (James Maddison can play both attacking and defensive midfield positions)

Forwards: Yan Yuan, James Maddison/Odegaard/Iwobi, Aubameyang/Saka, Lacazette

Future Yashin Trophy winner (Martin) + future Ballon d'Or winner (Rodri) + future world's best defender (Achraf Hakimi, Cancelo) + Arsenal's duo (Aubameyang, Lacazette) + Norway's captain (Odegaard) + future England captain (Yan Yuan)

They have players on both the offensive and defensive ends, and their bench lineup is also quite good.

With these people, plus the professor's guidance, and Yan Yuan's coordination and leadership, winning the Premier League and the Champions League should be no problem.

Regarding Achraf, you can rest assured. Due to Carvajal's presence, Achraf wasn't highly regarded at Real Madrid at the time. Arsenal will definitely buy him out permanently. Yan Yuan will bring Achraf and Saka into the league this season. I really like Achraf as a player; he's also very emotionally intelligent in real life and works very hard, which is similar to the protagonist's personality.

Then there are players everyone likes, such as Rice and Gabriel. Rice will be bought next season because Arsenal already has enough young players this season, mostly under 20 years old. If too many young players are added, the Arsenal fans in the novel will have objections. Gabriel is also too young (only 16 years old at this time).

272 is about to be kicked out, not just out of Arsenal, I'll make sure he's completely kicked out of the top five leagues. To borrow a line from Sun Shangxiang in King of Glory, "I'll give him a spectacular exit."