Sister

"Hello, Michael?" John said.

John called Michael while on his way to Amanda's house. It was already evening and John decided to call Michael immediately, so that Michael could find some other option for them.

"Yes, John, how did it go?" Michael enquired.

"It didn't go well, we lost the chance to sign him," John replied.

"Why?" Michael asked.

"He wanted a guaranteed starting spot," John explained.

"Oh! but we can't really blame him for it, can we?" Michael said.

"Well, it doesn't matter. We now have to focus ahead," John said.

"So, what do we do now?" Michael said.

"Now, we have to find someone else suitable for our squad," John said, "Michael, why don't you look for any experienced players who are available for loan rather than a permanent transfer. I think a loan would suit us right now."

"Didn't you say at the start of the transfer window that we won't take anyone on loan?" Michael asked over the phone.

John had decided at the start of the transfer window that to take advantage of his knowledge of future superstars, he won't take any players on loan. Signing players on loan was a huge part of the transfer window for teams that were not flush with cash, and it helped them too.

In the long term though, it only helped the big teams. They could recall their players at any time if they needed him, if the player is playing well and his evaluation increases, they could sell him on for profit. Sometimes they even included a clause that the player won't be able to play against them.

There were benefits for the small teams using this process too though, they didn't have to pay anything to get the player's services for a year except his wages, and if the signing didn't work out, they won't regret spending an exorbitant fee for signing him.

"Yeah, that is the ideal, but we have to be practical. We don't have much money and we aren't signing him to be starting for us. We are signing him as a failsafe, to have someone in case our best players aren't available to us," John said.

That was the truth. That was why John didn't promise anything to Morais. That could be considered bad business, but John didn't want to promise something that just wasn't true.

"But finding an experienced player available on loan is even more difficult than finding someone to sign someone permanently," Michael expressed his concern.

Loans were mainly used for young players. When teams couldn't get their young players the game time required for them to develop, they sent them to teams that required players to get them some playing time. Loans were also used to check if the player fit in their system by teams that were trying to sign a player, but that was mainly for young players too.

Finding an experienced player available on loan was very very difficult.

"Well, try to find one and if you can't, we will have to splurge cash after all," John said.

"I'll try my best," Michael said.

Spending money was always an option that was going to be open. John wanted to save some cash from the transfer budget, so that he could provide Leicester with some motivation in the form of generous bonuses. Money is always the best motivation, especially for professional footballers whose careers were short. But if it was necessary, he will have to spend to get Simeone the players he needed.

Simeone wasn't a very demanding manager in terms of transfers. While he always demanded total dedication from his players, when it came to transfers, he was as reasonable as could be expected.

John remembered, throughout Simeone's managerial career at Atletico Madrid, they had to let several players go due to the financial reasons, but Simeone chose to try his best with the personnel available to him rather than threaten the board or leaving his job.

"We're here," the cab driver said to John.

John didn't call Amanda to pick him up, he knew she was very busy with her work at the company and didn't want to disturb her.

He knew that due to him selling the shares of his father's company to a different party to raise the cash required to buy Leicester, Amanda's job was harder but she never complained to him or try to stop him from doing it. She was only happy that he decided to work hard on this project.

'Is that guilt?' John thought about the heavy feeling in his heart.

He didn't really feel anything when he made that decision, he didn't know these people and didn't care what they thought. But after being in touch with Amanda and Sean for a long time, he realized that they were the only two people who genuinely cared about him.

He still didn't feel anything about Phil Baker, his late father but that was because he never interacted with him.

"You're early," Amanda said as she gave John a hug, which he awkwardly returned.

"Should I leave and come back later?" John asked in a playful manner.

"You know, if it wasn't for the fact that you were here after a long time, I would have kicked you out myself," Amanda replied while squinting her eyes.

"I don't doubt that," John replied while laughing.

"Yeah, never doubt me," Amanda said while leading him to the living room.

"So, how are you doing? You look worn out," Amanda said.

"Yeah, today's deal fell through," John replied.

"It's alright, you win some, you lose some," Amanda said in an attempt to console him.

"I know" John just looked at her while smiling.

"So, tell me, have you found a girlfriend in Leicester?" Amanda asked.

"Well, not a girlfriend, you know. Haven't met anyone interesting." John said.

"Or do you mean, you haven't met anyone at all," Amanda said.

"Hey, hey! you don't get to say that while living alone," John fired back.

John felt comfortable while talking with her. He was afraid that meeting her in person would be different from talking to her on phone, but it looked like it was just fine.