134 The Rookie Reports Part 1 (2/2)
Tang En frowned. Was Leeds United so poor to the point that they could hardly afford to pay their players? ”How much is that?”
”His weekly salary is £9,000.”
Tang En turned to look at Moore, with his eyes widened. ”Leeds should just simply go rob a bank. Only Rebrov is drawing a weekly salary of over £10,000 on the Forest Team. He's only a short-term loan, and I have to dig out 9,000 per week... Forget it. I don't want him. It's not as if I do not have other candidates for the left midfield.”
When he heard Twain said this, Moore was also interested. He found that the manager's knowledge of many players seemed to be no less than his. For example, Eastwood was discovered by Twain. So, he asked, ”Who have you taken a liking to again?”
Tang En took his notepad and pen which were always with him, wrote a name on it, and handed it to Moore, ”Mr. Moore, you help me pay a visit to Stoke City to see how this man is doing.”
”Kris Commons?” Moore stared at this name and then gave a firm nod, ”I know who he is. You have taken a fancy to him?”
”Well, his team played against us last season. He was brought on at the last minute, but he caused a lot of trouble for my team. His team eventually lost six goals to us in that game, but he was the only Stoke City player who I remembered.” Tang En nodded and said, ”His breakthrough, crosses, long shots, powerful free kicks... he is not a bad left midfielder. And I don't think his price will be too high, so we don't have to have that £9,000-weekly-salary guy.”
On the television screen, McPhail beautifully went up against two opposing players on the wing alone. Then he deployed a very imaginative way to send the football through the middle of the two players, and he increased his speed to bypass around them. At this time, his opponents were still rooted to the ground and did not know where the football had gone. It was immediately followed by a beautiful cross, which he assisted his teammate to score.
Watching this scene, Tang En coughed a few times. ”Well, actually, it's not bad to loan him. After all, I do not know whether Commons can persist and appear in every game without any injury or illness. All right, it looks like we need to have a good talk with Leeds.”
Next to him, a hint of a smile appeared on Moore's face again.
It was at this point that the cell phone in Tang En's pocket rang. It was a call from the entrance guard, Ian MacDonald.
”Tony, I have a guy here who wants to see you. He says he's a newly signed player for the Forest Team, but I think he looks like a liar.”
There was a quick-talking and sharp voice on the other end of the call. ”I'm not a liar! I am a professional footballer! Shall I give you the original agreement? Damn it! Sabina, quickly help me find that agreement!” It was followed by the sound of a baby crying.
When he heard these, Tang En smiled and asked MacDonald, ”Ian, the 'liar' you referred to, did he drive a yellow wagon to come here?”
”That's right, Tony. It almost blocked the front gate! I've never seen a 'professional player' who has a home in a wagon. What do you mean he's not a liar? And...”
”I said it before, I'm not a liar! I have proof!” The sharp voice rang out again. Even Moore could hear it.
Tang En and Moore glanced at each other in tacit understanding and laughed.
”Ian, you did well. I'll be right over.”
※※※
When Tang En and Moore hurried to the front gate of the training ground, Eastwood was still in an argument with Ian MacDonald. The old guard dutifully listened to Twain's instructions and refused to let the Romanichal Gypsy who did not look like a professional footballer enter the training ground. And Eastwood was waving his arms at MacDonald in frustration because he and his wife could not find the agreement. His wife, Sabina, was calming her child on the side as the little baby was apparently frightened by his father's sharp quarreling sound. He was crying nonstop in his mother's arm and struggled with all his strength.
This was indeed a boisterous scene!