Chapter 25: New Season approaches for Leeds

It's April, and the 41st round of the English Championship is about to kick off. This is it. The game Leeds United fans have been waiting for, the one that could finally send them up to the promised land of the Premier League. They're facing Derby County at home, and the stakes could not be higher. Leeds United, led by Arthur, are in prime position. They've been on fire for the last eight games, with 4 wins and 4 draws. Now they sit comfortably at the top of the Championship with a grand total of 100 points. Sunderland, on the other hand, have been on their tails like a dog chasing a stick, winning 5 straight after 3 consecutive draws. They've shaved off the point gap, bringing themselves to just 3 points behind Leeds with 97 points. But there's a twist—Derby County, with 86 points, have leapfrogged Wigan Athletic into 3rd place. With only 5 games left, Leeds could seal their promotion with a win against Derby. One more victory, and it's official. Premier League, here we come! The tension is palpable. Arthur knows this is the moment that could define his entire season. To ensure his players are in peak condition, he'd been rotating the starting lineup for the last two games, giving them a bit of a breather. He's not taking anything for granted. This week, everything had to go perfectly. The training session would start soon, but Arthur had already been in his office, working on other aspects of the club—because, of course, there was more to running a football team than just playing the games. As he sipped his coffee, Arthur thought about the plans he had made, the signings he'd lined up, and the future of Leeds United. The whole operation was like a finely tuned machine, and Arthur liked it that way. This morning, he had a few updates on his ongoing transfer dealings. First up, Yaya Touré. On the second day after the staff had arrived in Donetsk, Arthur received a call confirming that they had negotiated an agreement with Donetsk Metallurgical. Initially, Arthur had set his maximum price at 1.6 million euros, but in the negotiation, it had dropped to 1.45 million euros. Then they hammered out the personal contract for Yaya. Three years, and a buy-out clause of 43 million euros. Arthur couldn't help but chuckle to himself. He had to admit, the deal was pretty smooth. He was getting a talented midfielder at a reasonable price. The kind of deal Arthur thrived on—shrewd, calculated, and low-risk. Next came the reports from the scouts he had sent to Argentina back in mid-March. They had watched two of the most exciting young talents in South America: Falcao and Mascherano. Arthur had always been ahead of the curve when it came to spotting talent, and from the scouts' assessment, these two were no exception. They were technically gifted, physically strong, and ready to take on European football. Sure, they might need a bit of time to adjust to the English game, but Arthur was confident that under his guidance, they'd adapt quickly. Just as he'd suspected, River Plate had agreed to sell Falcao for 3.5 million euros and Mascherano for 6 million euros. Another deal done. Falcao's contract would also be three years, with a hefty buy-out clause of 47.5 million euros. Mascherano's contract, similarly, had a 59 million euro clause. Arthur had learned from his previous transfers—put in the high buy-out clauses early, and let the big clubs worry about paying the premium later. Arthur chuckled to himself. The best part was how these players had no clue why their new boss thought they were worth that kind of money. Falcao and Mascherano were probably wondering what kind of wizardry Arthur was pulling to get them these kinds of contracts. But hey, if it worked, it worked. Arthur was confident he had just secured two absolute gems for Leeds. The signings were all falling into place, but there was one thorn in his side: Berbatov. Leverkusen had turned down Arthur's 10 million euro offer for the Bulgarian striker. Berbatov had been on fire this season, scoring 14 goals, and Leverkusen wasn't about to let their star player go without a fight. After Arthur's bid, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Leverkusen's new head coach, had immediately voiced his opinion—Berbatov was essential to their plans. And to Arthur's surprise, the club management backed Hitzlsperger. They weren't interested in selling their star just yet, especially with the hope that more giants would come knocking, offering even more money. Arthur wasn't exactly heartbroken over the rejection. No, not at all. He'd seen this kind of thing before. Leverkusen had their reasons, and Arthur had time on his side. The summer transfer window was still a few months away, and by then, Leeds might have some players to sell—players who could help fund a potential deal for Berbatov. Arthur wasn't one to rush into anything. He was playing the long game, and patience was a virtue he had in spades. So, as the morning continued and the team prepared for their match against Derby County, Arthur found himself in the rare position of being relatively stress-free. He had everything lined up—signings, strategy, and most importantly, the future of Leeds United was looking bright. All that was left to do now was win the game. After all, the points were on the line. If Leeds could just grab those three points, they'd be a step closer to the Premier League. And with that, Arthur would be one step closer to proving that he was the man to take Leeds to the top. The pressure was on, but Arthur didn't feel it. He was cool, collected, and ready for whatever came next. As he stood up from his desk, ready to head to the training ground, he couldn't help but think about how far he'd come. A few months ago, Leeds were struggling, and now, they were on the brink of something huge. No one could have predicted this kind of turnaround—least of all, the other managers in the league. They were all going to have to reckon with Leeds United, and with Arthur at the helm, they were in for one heck of a ride. The countdown to the game had begun. It was time to seal the deal. *** Arthur had always known the importance of youth development. It wasn't just a matter of scouting the next big thing or signing players from all over the globe; it was about nurturing talent from within, something that could help save a pretty penny in the long run. After all, it's way cheaper to train your own players than to fork out millions for ones who were already established. And right now, Arthur's youth training plan was looking better than ever. Back in the winter transfer window, Arthur didn't have much cash to splash around. So, he made the decision to focus on one player in particular. That player? Bale, the young Welsh wonder kid who had shown enough promise to make Arthur take notice. Sure, he only brought in Bale during that window, but that was only the beginning. Fast forward a few months, and Arthur took a look at the lad's stats, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. Bale's improvement was almost ridiculous. His attribute panel had gone from a D+ to a C+, which in Arthur's book was a solid leap. But what really caught his eye was Bale's speed. The kid was fast—like, "catch me if you can" fast. At just 15, soon to be 16 in July, Bale already had a speed rating of 82, with his fastest speed clocking in at 86. This wasn't just good; this was freakishly good. Arthur had a feeling that this kid had S+ potential written all over him. Arthur wasn't the type to sit on his hands, though. No, he had bigger plans. "Next season," Arthur mused to himself as he reviewed the data, "I'm bringing Bale up to the first team. I'll have him running circles around anyone who dares to challenge him." Arthur was convinced that with his training, Bale's stats would skyrocket, and he'd be one of the best players in the league. But Arthur's ambitions didn't stop at just Bale. Thanks to the hard work of his scouts, Arthur had pretty much raided Europe's top youth players. It was like a supermarket sweep, but instead of running through aisles grabbing random items, Arthur was carefully plucking the best young talents from every corner of Europe. He didn't just stop at Bale. No, he also brought in Hazard, Courtois, Lukaku, and De Bruyne—basically, the core of Belgium's "golden generation." The future of Belgian football? Well, it was all coming to Leeds. Imagine that—Leeds United's youth training camp was stacked with potential superstars. In just a few short months, Arthur had assembled a squad that could rival the best academies in Europe. Hazard at 15? Lukaku at 13? De Bruyne at 15? These kids were going to be scary good, and Arthur couldn't help but feel a little proud. He took a sip of tea, admiring the fruits of his labor. Everything was coming together. With his youth training plan taking off, he was building a future that wasn't just about immediate success—it was about long-term domination. But of course, there was still work to do. Arthur stood up from his desk, grabbed his tactical boards, and started making his way down to the training ground. He was in the zone. But just as he was about to head out the door, he saw Allen running towards him, looking like he was in a hurry. And when I say "in a hurry," I mean he was running like a man who had just seen a bear chase after him. Arthur couldn't resist. "Good morning, Allen," he called out. "Is there a dog chasing you? You're running like you're late for a flight." Allen, out of breath and with a look on his face that screamed "I'm about to tell you something important," shot Arthur a quick glare. After a moment to catch his breath, he finally spoke. "Boss, I just got another offer for Adebayor." Arthur didn't even flinch. At this point, offers for Adebayor were as common as rain in England. The guy had been on fire in the Championship—scoring goals like it was his job (well, it kind of was his job). Arthur had already expected more offers to come in. It was no surprise. But when Allen mentioned who the offer was from, Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Arsenal?" Arthur said, with just the slightest hint of amusement. "Now, that's interesting. Tell me more." Allen explained that Arsenal had upped the ante with an offer of 20 million euros. Arthur leaned back, considering the number. On one hand, 20 million wasn't a bad offer. But on the other hand, it was still a far cry from Adebayor's 29 million euro release clause. Arthur scratched his chin, deep in thought. "So, Wenger thinks he can just waltz in and pick up Adebayor on the cheap, huh?" he muttered, a sly grin slowly spreading across his face. "Well, I suppose we'll have to teach them a lesson." As much as Arthur had grown fond of Adebayor, he knew the value of negotiation. And this offer? Well, it wasn't even close to what he was willing to accept. Arsenal might be a big club, but their financial troubles weren't Arthur's problem. They'd been building a new stadium, and their budget was tighter than a pair of skinny jeans. It wasn't like they couldn't afford a bit more, though. It was Arsenal, for crying out loud! But Arthur wasn't going to just give Adebayor away for a bargain price. No, if Wenger wanted him, he'd have to pay the full price. Arthur wasn't about to be taken for a ride. "Tell Arsenal," Arthur said with a smile, "that we'll reject the offer. As long as Adebayor's release clause isn't met, we're not selling. And if they really want him, they'll have to cough up the full 29 million euros." Allen gave a nod and turned to head back to his office. But Arthur, lost in thought, stood there for a moment longer. This wasn't just about Adebayor. It was about playing the game—getting the best deal, making sure Leeds were always in control, and keeping the upper hand. After all, in football, business was just as important as the game itself. Arthur couldn't help but chuckle to himself. Arsenal had poked the bear. And now, he was going to make them learn how to negotiate. The game had just begun, and Arthur was ready to teach them all how it was done.