By December 2015, the "Thorne Effect" was no longer a curiosity; it was a threat. Everton sat 4th in the table, playing a brand of high-octane, positional football that left traditional pundits scratching their heads. But the real battle wasn't happening on the grass of Goodison—it was happening in the five-star lounges of London's Mayfair.
Elias needed a statement. A signing that would signal the end of the "Big Six" era. He had his sights set on Leroy Sané, but a new name had appeared on his radar, one he knew would become the most expensive player in the world by 2017: Kylian Mbappé.
In late 2015, Mbappé was just a 16-year-old at Monaco, yet to sign a professional contract. Elias knew that in the original timeline, he'd debut in December. He had to move now.
The London Summit
Elias sat across from a high-level intermediary at The Connaught. Across from him wasn't just any scout—it was a representative from Manchester City.
"We know you've been talking to Schalke about Sané," the City rep said, swirling a glass of expensive scotch. "And we know you've been poking around Monaco. Let's be clear, Mr. Thorne. Everton doesn't have the stature for these boys. You're a flash in the pan. Don't drive up the prices for the rest of us."
Elias leaned back, a cold smile on his lips. "Stature is built on trophies, which you have. But it's also built on vision. You want Sané because your scouts saw his highlights. I want him because I know he'll be the best winger in the league for three seasons straight before he gets homesick for Munich."
The City rep stiffened. "How could you possibly—"
"I'm offering Schalke £35 million upfront," Elias interrupted. "And I'm offering the boy a guaranteed starting spot. You'll put him on the bench behind Sterling and Navas. If he goes to you, he's a prospect. If he comes to me, he's a king."
The "All-In" Maneuver
Elias left the meeting and immediately called his financial team. "Liquidate the copper futures," he commanded. "I don't care about the capital gains tax. I need £100 million in the transfer escrow account by Friday."
He wasn't just fighting City for Sané. He was fighting Arsenal for a young midfielder named N'Golo Kanté.
In 2015, Kanté was still the "quiet engine" at Leicester. The world hadn't fully realized he was a cheat code yet. Elias had already met with Kanté's representatives.
"Leicester wants to keep him," his scout, Steve, reported over an encrypted line. "But Arsenal have reached out. Wenger sees him as the new Flamini."
"Wenger is underestimating him," Elias hissed. "Tell Kanté I don't want him to be a squad player. I want to build the entire defensive transition around him. And tell Leicester I'll double whatever Arsenal offers. Cash. No add-ons."
The Sabotage
The following morning, the Daily Mail ran a front-page "expose" on Elias's financial holdings, questioning the source of his sudden wealth and hinting at "market manipulation."
Elias looked at the paper and laughed. It was a classic "Big Six" hit piece, designed to trigger an FA investigation and freeze his transfer activity.
He picked up his phone and dialed a number he had memorized from the future—a whistleblower at a major London bank.
"Hello, Marcus. It's Elias Thorne. I have the documents regarding the offshore accounts Chelsea used for the 2013 youth signings. You know, the ones that will lead to a transfer ban in a few years? If the press doesn't stop sniffing around my bank accounts by noon, those documents go to FIFA today."
The "investigation" into Elias was dropped by 2:00 PM.
The First Capture
New Year's Eve, 2015. The transfer window was about to swing open.
Elias stood on the balcony of his penthouse, watching the fireworks over the Thames. His phone buzzed. A picture message from Steve.
It was a photo of a young, lanky German kid holding an Everton shirt in a private jet. Leroy Sané.
Minutes later, another text.
"Kanté is in. He liked that you knew his interception stats from the French third division. He thinks you're a scout-god. Contract signed."
Elias didn't celebrate. He opened his laptop. The stock market in Tokyo was opening. He needed to make another £20 million to fund the "Mbappé Project" before Monaco realized they had a billion-dollar asset on their hands.
"The war is just starting," Elias whispered to the cold London air. "Wait until they see who I'm buying in the summer."