At Bayern Munich's youth academy...
David pointed at Lahm, who was focused on his training, and asked Löw with pride, "What do you think of this short left-back?"
Löw watched Lahm's every move carefully, assessing the player's skills and potential with a professional eye.
"This is a good player," Löw replied thoughtfully. "Even if he can't break into Bayern's first team yet, his solid fundamentals and flexible mindset could make him a key player for other Bundesliga clubs. If he develops well, his future is limitless."
David laughed without restraint. "This is the future Bayern and Germany captain—the world's top left-back."
Löw frowned but didn't share David's optimism. Bayern wouldn't be foolish enough to let such a talented youngster go easily.
"Here's my plan," Löw said. "Let's loan him first. We include a buyout clause that Bayern simply can't refuse. If the number is right, Lahm will belong to us!"
David was confident, knowing Lahm would soon be loaned to Stuttgart to help them win the 2003-04 Bundesliga title.
Turning his attention elsewhere, David spotted another player training with Bayern's reserves: Misimović.
While not a superstar in David's past life, Misimović was close to first-team quality. He had even led Bundesliga assists for Wolfsburg, making him an ideal backup midfielder for Notts County.
Compared to Lahm, Misimović appeared more mature—already a leading figure among the reserve squad. He excelled at ball control and distribution, and Löw believed that with time, he could succeed in the Bundesliga, let alone England's Championship.
Without delay, David and Löw contacted Bayern to negotiate loan deals for their two targets.
The transfer of Misimović was straightforward. For a modest fee of €500,000, he joined Notts County. Everyone was happy.
Negotiations for Lahm, however, were more difficult.
Bayern refused to sell him—at least not yet. They saw Lahm's potential and believed he would be a first-team regular soon.
Loaning him out made sense, but Bayern preferred to keep him close—ideally at a German club—so they could monitor his development.
The brutal style of England's lower leagues was a concern; Bayern didn't want their prospect to get lost in the rough and tumble.
Undeterred, David proposed a two-year loan deal with a buyout clause—set high.
His offer: a €10 million buyout clause after two years. If Notts County didn't activate it, they would pay Bayern €3 million in loan fees.
This suited both parties. Bayern remained optimistic— Lahm wasn't yet untouchable, and if Notts County could meet the clause in two years, Bayern would profit handsomely.
If Notts County didn't buy, Bayern would still profit €3 million and have a more experienced player upon return—even if his development slowed.
Thus, Lahm's loan deal was finalized. Both clubs were pleased, though only David could predict the future's true outcome.
After securing Lahm and Misimović, David moved to recruit Westman from German third-tier side Alzenau for €120,000.
Westman, a German U21 national by then, was an exciting prospect.
Their final stop in Germany was Hannover. David shrewdly signed the 18-year-old Mertesacker from their youth team, with help from Mertesacker's father, a youth coach.
The budding youth academy at Notts County welcomed such talent eagerly—players like Mertesacker perfectly fit the vision.
"This is an exciting challenge," David said, as he prepared to leave for Spain. "I hope this is the start of fruitful cooperation."
David had secured Löw as Notts County's new coach for the upcoming season. Together, they aimed to build a talented, determined squad and bring the club its first championship in years.
With the coaching situation resolved, David felt a great weight lifted. He had no intention of settling for a mediocre British coach from the lower leagues; he'd rather have none at all.
Buoyed by his German trip's success, David was confident in his strategy—targeting future stars for the club—but knew the road ahead was just beginning.
David pulled in Villa from Sporting Gijon for €500,000 and the young keeper Diego Lopez from Real Madrid's C team for €400,000—both smooth transfers handled without much hassle.
But for two other future superstars, David had to invest much more time, though he believed their arrival would be worth every effort.
First, his midfield lynchpin for the next decade: Harvey Alonso, a fan favorite and leader in the making.
David intimately understood the enormous impact a world-class midfielder could have in transforming a team. Alonso wasn't merely talented—he was a natural-born leader among top defenders and midfielders alike.