Football singularity-Chapter 630 Transfer Saga
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[10/09/2020, 11:30, Leverkusen HQ, Inside the Conference Room]
Rolfes turned to Dr Keller the moment the door closed. "Your honest assessment?"
The lawyer removed his glasses and cleaned them with his pocket square, a habit when he was thinking. "Legally, we have no leverage here. Rakim’s contract expires in ten months. If he refuses to sign an extension, we either sell him in January for whatever we can get or we let him play out his contract and leave for nothing in June. Neither option is ideal."
"So she’s right," Rolfes said. "We need him more than he needs us."
"Correct," Dr Keller confirmed. "And she knows it. That’s why she’s negotiating from strength. The question is: can the club afford what she’s asking?"
Rolfes pulled up a financial spreadsheet on his tablet, scrolling through projected revenues and expenses. "€75,000 per week is €3.9 million per year. With performance bonuses, call it €4.5 million annually. For a one-year extension, that’s €4.5 million total additional expenditure."
He tapped the screen, running calculations. "If we sell him next summer for €80 million, which is conservative given his age and ability, we net €75.5 million after wages. If we lose him on a free, we net negative €4.5 million."
"And the release clause?" Dr Keller asked.
"100 million pounds is approximately €110 million at current rates," Rolfes said. "Honestly? I don’t hate it. If a club is willing to pay that much, we’re getting fair value. But I believe we could get more if we could encourage a bidding war when he improves upon his form from last season."
Dr Keller nodded slowly. "Wait, you’re not thinking of..."
"Yes, let’s scratch the release clause altogether and set goal and assist targets on top of the regular bonus to encourage performance," Rolfes stated, rubbing his stubble with a contemplative look. "Havertz is leaving, and if we want to play for more this season, we are gonna need him as a creative outlet."
"Your serios aren’t you, (Sigh)," Dr Keller nodded slowly. "Then the only question is whether we can justify making a seventeen-year-old the second-highest-paid player. The optics within the squad..."
"Well, we need a focal point before Wirtz grows into the team, plus I believe his value could well rise above 100 million," Rolfes said bluntly. "I just want to field a more competitive squad this year. I really think we could go all the way."
"Then we might actually need to meet Bosz’s demand for a forward, especially if we want to play on three fronts." Dr Keller noted after realising that Rolfes had already made up his mind.
~~~
[14/09/2020, 11:30, Leverkusen, Rakims home]
"United secures firepower up front with an absolute steal of a deal with Edinson Cavani, who joins them on a free," Carragher announced with a light smile. "The squad has been through a tumultuous few years, but this move could be a sign of better things to come; it certainly excites the fans to no end."
Rakim sat slouched on the living room couch, the remote rested beside him as he devoured his protein meal. His new personal trainer had him on a new nutrition plan that had smaller portions but more frequent meals. Watching the Sky Sports roll through the morning’s transfer window recap, he quickly got bored as it was more of the same all month.
---
[May: How’s your morning, babe? It’s beautiful here in Australia, I wish you had come.
Me: Same wish I was there, but I couldn’t deal with all those snakes, spiders, crocodiles, sharks, kangaroos, and ostriches.
Me: Dang, every animal either wants to kill you or is simply an assholes. Honestly surprised you managed to enjoy your vacation.
May: Fuck don’t even get me started, we woke up to the biggest spider in our room, it was madness...]
---
"Breaking news, we have just confirmed that Leverkusen’s 17-year-old wunderkind Rakim Rex has put pen to paper on a one-year extension." Jamie Carragher stated, halting the discussion between Micha and Henry, and getting Rakim’s attention. "Following yesterday’s stellar performance in the DFB cup against Eintracht Norderstedt, where he scored four and provided two assists, they have finally pushed the deal through."
Micah Richards shook his head with a wide grin. "The boy is different. Four goals and two assists against any team on the professional stage is crazy."
Thierry Henry, who had been quietly observing, spoke up. "What’s interesting about this extension is the timing. His contract was expiring next summer, which meant he could have walked away for free. By signing for one more year, he’s doing Leverkusen and himself a massive favour, essentially sending a message that he is here for the entire season."
"Smart business from both sides," Carragher agreed. "Leverkusen get to settle the locker room for the season and demand a proper transfer fee, and Rakim gets what I’m hearing is a substantial wage increase. Reports suggest he’s now earning upwards of €70,000 per week, making him one of the highest-paid players at the club."
Richards whistled. "Seventy thousand a week for a seventeen-year-old? That’s serious money, Jamie."
"And worth every penny," Henry interjected. "Last season, he had twenty-seven goals and eighteen assists across all competitions. At sixteen years old. He danced around some of the best defenders in the world against Bayern, Atletico, and of course, Leipzig."
Carragher nodded. "And there’s also talk of the release clause that was previously at €70 million being scratched, though neither the club nor his representatives have confirmed that. But if true, that’s a statement of intent. Leverkusen are basically saying, ’If you want him, you’re going to pay premium money.’"
"Which clubs will," Richards said immediately. "Chelsea has already signed Havertz from Leverkusen for big money. You know they’ll be looking at Rakim, too. Manchester United need all the attacking reinforcements it can get. Man City, Liverpool are always in the market for young talent. Barcelona, despite their financial troubles, won’t want to miss out on a player of this calibre."
Henry leaned back, his expression thoughtful. "Before we give the Leverkusen fans panic attacks, let’s see what the young man will do this season."
"Onto another story, the saga between Jordan Sancho and Manchester United continues..." Carragher stated moving on to another story that would excite the viewers who made it their living to predict the transfer windows.
"Rakim, you ready well do some aquatic exercises to boost your recovery from yesterday’s match?" A rugged voice resounded as a dark-skinned man walked into the living room dressed in sports shorts and a tank top showcasing his muscular physique. "If we want to meet the goals we set out this year, we’ll have to stick to the plan."
"Say less, Simba, what you got me doing today?" Rakim responded, springing up from the sofa quickly, clearing the plate that had his finished meal. "I know it’s barely been a month, but I’m definitely feeling the difference, though these meals you have me on are even more brutal than the club nutritionist."
"You’re the one who insisted on being strict, so no complaining now," Simba replied, rubbing his bald head as Rakim rinsed the plate and cooking utensils to wash later. "You know you have plenty of time, why put so much pressure on yourself?"
"Last season was good, but I couldn’t go the distance." He responded with a light smile, clutching his fist tightly. "Towards the end, I couldn’t perform the way I wanted to, but more importantly, I hate losing; being second best is one of the worst feelings in the world."
"Alright, let’s strive to get better every day, then," Simbad responded with a bright grin, leading the way to the indoor pool. "Still starting your season with four goals is insane, bro. Now you just need to replicate that in every competition."
"No problem, all in a day’s work."
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To Be Continued...
