The morning sun over the Mersey didn't just signal a new day; it signaled the end of the old footballing order. Outside Goodison Park, the atmosphere was electric, bordering on a riot of joy. Fans hovered near the gates, clutching "Thorne 1" scarves, while news helicopters circled overhead like vultures sensing a kill.
Inside the stadium's revamped press room, the air conditioning hummed, struggling to cool the room packed with every major sports journalist from London to Madrid.
The Takeover
Elias Thorne walked onto the stage, not in a tracksuit, but in a bespoke midnight-blue suit that cost more than most League One transfer budgets. Beside him sat a bewildered but smiling 17-year-old Kylian Mbappé and the stoic, tireless N'Golo Kanté.
"The era of the 'Big Six' is a historical footnote," Elias began, his voice amplified by the silent, stunned tension of the room. "As of 9:00 AM today, I have completed the full buyout of Everton Football Club. We are no longer a club that 'competes.' We are a club that dictates."
He gestured to the screen behind him, revealing the "New Everton" blueprint. It wasn't just about players; it was a total structural overhaul.
The Blueprint: Everton 2.0
Elias laid out a plan that looked like science fiction to the 2016 press corps:
The "Shadow" Scouting Network: A proprietary AI-driven database (fueled by Elias's future knowledge) that identified players based on "Predicted Peak Value" rather than current form.
The Hyper-Academy: A £100 million facility dedicated to "Positional Intelligence," training 12-year-olds in the tactical systems Elias knew would dominate the 2020s.
The Financial Fortress: Leveraging his "Brexit Short" winnings, Elias established a sovereign-wealth-style fund for the club, making them immune to the traditional boom-and-bust cycles of the Premier League.
The First Training Session: "The Future is Fast"
Later that afternoon, Elias took to the grass of Finch Farm. The senior players, once skeptical, now looked at him with something akin to fear. He had fired the board; he could erase their careers with a stroke of a pen.
He gathered the squad in a tight circle. In the center stood the new arrivals: Mbappé, Sané, and Kanté.
"Speed is the only currency that matters now," Elias told them. "If you can't think at 100 miles per hour, you don't play. Kylian?"
The young Frenchman stepped forward.
"You're starting on Saturday against Spurs," Elias said. "They play a high line under Pochettino. They think they're the fittest team in the league. We're going to show them that fitness is useless if you're chasing a ghost."
The Tactical Shift
Elias spent the session drilling a 4-3-3 that morphed into a 2-3-5 in possession—a tactic Pep Guardiola wouldn't perfect at City for another few years.
He pulled John Stones aside. "John, I know they call you 'Barnsley Beckenbauer' as a joke. It's not a joke. From today, you are a 'Libero.' You don't just defend; you're our primary playmaker. If you're 40 yards from their goal, stay there. N'Golo will cover the space behind you."
Stones looked at Kanté, who was currently intercepting three different passes simultaneously in a small-sided game. "He really does have three lungs, doesn't he, Boss?"
"Four," Elias corrected with a wink. "I checked the medical."
The Warning Shot
As the sun set over the training ground, Elias's phone buzzed. It was a private message from an encrypted Swiss account.
"You've bought the club. You've bought the kid. But the Premier League owners are meeting in secret tomorrow. They're going to vote on a 'Luxury Tax' specifically designed to bankrupt you. You're winning the battle, Elias, but you've started a war you can't win with just money."
Elias looked at Mbappé, who was currently outprinting the entire first team in a 100-meter dash. A cold, determined smile crossed his face.
He didn't reply to the text. Instead, he called his broker. "Double the position on the tech stocks I told you about. If they want to tax me, I'll just buy the league."