Chapter One: The One-Euro Verdict

“Loan him,” Lin said. “Stop at nine appearances, then exercise a one-hundred-thousand-euro option under a new contract. Graycastle wants him gone badly enough to agree.” Hall laughed. “A cripple will keep us up?” “This isn't about survival. It's buying eighteen million for one hundred thousand.” Graycastle accepted every term two hours later. Su handed Lin the signed papers. “You now lead this transfer project. Lose one euro and I record it.” The announcement crashed Northport's website under furious traffic. The top trend called them the poorest club buying the costliest rubbish. Alone that evening, Lin received an email from Seamount City: twenty-one-year-old winger Diego Costaro for five million, valid forty-eight hours.