The Coaching System-Chapter 84: Completing the Final Transfers

📌 July 11th, 2024 – Four Days Until Al Nassr Match

📍 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.

The Saudi sun was relentless, baking the training pitch in a heat far beyond anything the Bradford players were used to. Even in the late afternoon, the air was thick and dry, making every movement feel heavier.

But this wasn't a vacation.

This was the first real test of Jake Wilson's new squad.

A few hundred local fans had gathered outside the training complex, pressing against the metal barriers, hoping to catch a glimpse of the players. Some wore Al Nassr jerseys, others simply held up phones, recording whatever they could.

Inside the state-of-the-art facility, the club's media team had set up for the official unveiling of Santiago Vélez and Leo Rasmussen. Cameras flashed, microphones were shoved forward, and a translator whispered between English, Spanish, and Danish.

Vélez sat back in his chair, arms crossed, wearing a slight smirk as he listened to a question in Spanish.

"Santiago, how do you feel about moving from Colombia to England, and now training in Saudi Arabia?"

He leaned into the mic. "I didn't come here for the weather," he said coolly. "I came here to win."

The response spread quickly across social media. Fans flooded the comments.

"This guy has an elite mentality."

"Vélez is already my favorite player."

"Jake Wilson is building a squad full of killers."

Next to him, Leo Rasmussen adjusted his seat slightly, noticeably more reserved than his Colombian teammate. When his turn came, he simply said, "I'm just here to work."

Not flashy. Not arrogant. Just focused.

Jake watched from the edge of the room, arms crossed.

Vélez: confident, fiery, ready to prove himself.

Rasmussen: quiet, disciplined, letting his game do the talking.

Both exactly what he wanted.

After the unveiling, training began immediately.

Jake had seen it before—the first session in extreme heat. Legs would feel heavier, lungs would burn faster, and even the fittest players would struggle.

Nathan Barnes, the team captain, jogged up to Vélez and Rasmussen as they stepped onto the field.

"Hope you two are ready," Barnes said, stretching out his arms. "Coach doesn't do 'slow starts.'"

Vélez wiped sweat from his brow, already grinning. "Good. I hate slow starts."

Barnes chuckled, but Rasmussen didn't even react—just adjusted his shin pads and nodded. "Let's just get to work."

Jake stood near the touchline, watching them closely.

No complaints. No hesitation. Just players who wanted to prove something.

Good.

Because in four days, they wouldn't be easing into anything. Al Nassr wouldn't care that they were adjusting.

Completing the Final Transfers

A few hours later, Jake Wilson sat in his office, the faint hum of an old desk fan the only sound in the room. His laptop screen glowed in the dim light, displaying the final set of transfer confirmations. The squad was complete—on paper.

Across from him, Michael Stone, Bradford City's head of recruitment, leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his graying hair. The man was a master negotiator, and over the past few weeks, he had worked tirelessly behind the scenes to secure every last deal.

Stone let out a satisfied sigh, stretching his arms. "Well, boss, that's the last of them. We're officially done."

Jake smirked. "About time."

The Big Sale – Ryan Carter → Monaco (£7M)

Stone tapped on his tablet, pulling up Carter's file. "This one took some work."

Jake exhaled, glancing at the name. Ryan Carter. The academy golden boy. A technical midfielder with a sharp passing range, but one Jake knew didn't fit the future of this team.

"When Monaco first came in, they lowballed us at five million," Stone said, shaking his head. "I laughed them off the phone. Told them we had European clubs sniffing around. That got them moving."

Jake raised an eyebrow. "Did we actually have other clubs interested?"

Stone grinned. "No. But they didn't know that."

Jake chuckled. He had always liked Stone's style—ruthless, efficient, and a bit of a bastard when needed.

"In the end, they settled at seven million. Lump sum. No bullshit add-ons. Cash in the bank."

Jake leaned back, nodding. It stung to lose a homegrown talent, but seven million for a League One club? That was game-changing money.

"Good work," Jake muttered.

Stone shrugged. "It's what I do."

An Easy Exit – Joe Thompson → Portugal (£1.5M)

Stone slid to the next file. Joe Thompson.

This one was less complicated. The 29-year-old midfielder had been on the fringes of the squad all season. Not a bad player, but not part of Jake's vision.

"Honestly, I didn't expect to get more than a million for him," Stone admitted. "But a club in Portugal came sniffing around—Marítimo. I played it cool, told them we weren't desperate to sell."

Jake smirked. "And they bit?"

"Hard. Bumped the offer up to one-point-five million to 'convince' us." Stone smirked. "Convinced, we were."

Jake nodded. Dead weight gone. Extra funds in the bank. No complaints.

The Hidden Gem – Marco Bianchi (CB, 18, Italy) – £600K from Atalanta Youth

Stone's expression changed slightly. "Now, this one… this one I liked."

Jake leaned forward. Marco Bianchi.

A 18-year-old ball-playing center-back with composure beyond his years. Spotted in Atalanta's youth system, hidden away from most scouting networks.

"Atalanta didn't want to sell," Stone continued. "They knew he had potential, but their academy is stacked. I had to convince them he wouldn't get first-team football anytime soon."

Jake nodded. "How'd you do it?"

"Simple. I made them an offer that looked low on paper—six hundred grand—but promised them a 30% sell-on clause."

Jake's eyes flickered with understanding. Short-term steal, long-term payoff for them.

"If Bianchi turns into the player we think he can be," Stone said, "Atalanta gets a cut of the profit, but we still win."

Jake grinned. Smart. Very smart.

Midfield & Attack Reinforcements

Stone moved on, swiping through the finalized deals.

✅ Elliot Harper (CM, 25, England) – £500K from Sunderland

✅ Guilherme Costa (ST, 23, Brazil) – £450K from Fluminense

Jake had pushed for Harper. A midfield engine, built for the intensity of English football. When Sunderland showed signs of needing a quick sale, Stone pounced.

"They wanted seven-fifty," Stone said. "Got them down to five. Too good a deal to pass up."

Costa was different. A poacher-style forward, ruthless in front of goal but slightly one-dimensional.

"Fluminense needed cash," Stone explained. "We could've pushed lower, but I didn't want to risk other clubs swooping in. Four-fifty got it done."

Jake nodded, satisfied. A clinical finisher for under half a million? That was a steal in modern football.

The Final Three Pieces

The last three deals had been harder to pull off.

✅ Raphael Mensah (RW, 20, Ghana, Anderlecht) – £500K

✅ Tobias Richter (ST, 21, Germany, Kaiserslautern) – £600K

✅ Andrés Ibáñez (CM, 24, Argentina, Boca Juniors) – £750K

"Mensah was a nightmare," Stone admitted. "Anderlecht wanted a loan deal with an obligation to buy. I pushed back—said we only deal in straight purchases. Nearly killed the deal, but they caved at the last second."

Jake smirked. "Stubborn as always."

Richter had been more straightforward. Kaiserslautern needed funds, and six hundred thousand for a promising German forward was a no-brainer.

But Ibáñez? That was the toughest one.

"Boca didn't even want to pick up the phone," Stone said. "Took weeks of back and forth. They wanted a million-plus."

Jake narrowed his eyes. "How'd you swing it?"

"Pulled the old 'European exposure' card," Stone said, grinning. "Told them Ibáñez wasn't getting a fair shot in Argentina, that playing in England would increase his value."

Jake chuckled. Classic.

"After some painful haggling, they finally gave in—seven-fifty. Full ownership. No sell-on clauses."

Jake leaned back, crossing his arms. The squad was complete.

"Good work, Stone."

Stone gave him a satisfied nod. "Told you I'd get it done."

Finalizing the Squad

Jake stood, walking to the whiteboard at the front of the office. Every name was there now.

The defense? Stronger, faster, more intelligent.

The midfield? More balanced, more aggressive, more dynamic.

The attack? Explosive. Ruthless. Ready.

He turned back to Stone. "This is it. No more signings. We work with what we've got."

Stone grinned. "Good. Because I'm exhausted."

Jake smirked. Four days until Al Nassr.

Time to see what this squad was really made of.

System Suggests a Tactical Shift

As Jake closed the final set of transfer documents, his vision blurred for a moment. Then, a familiar blue screen flickered to life.

The system had something to say.

Jake straightened, eyes narrowing as the text unfolded before him.

[Ding! System Recommendation]

"4-4-2 Formation Suggested"

A tactical breakdown followed, the system outlining the reasoning behind the shift.

Strengthens midfield control with two compact lines, preventing opposition dominance in the center.

Utilizes Renan Silva and Raphael Mensah as direct attacking threats from the wings.

Forms a balanced strike partnership with Lukas Novak and Guilherme Costa, combining Novak's hold-up play with Costa's clinical finishing.

Jake exhaled slowly, absorbing the information.

It made sense. He had spent the summer building this squad with exactly this kind of structure in mind—two dynamic wingers, a midfield built for endurance, and a front two that could complement each other. Now, the system was confirming it.

He leaned back in his chair, rolling his shoulders.

This was it.

Bradford City was no longer just a club trying to survive. They were a team with intent.

Mission Completed – System Rewards Jake

Another notification appeared, crisp and sharp.

[Ding! Mission Complete!]

New System Function Unlocked: Accelerated Recovery

Allows Jake to reduce a player's injury recovery time by up to 30% without increasing reinjury risk.

Can be used once per season on any player with a medium-to-long-term injury.

New Mission Activated: "Win at least three preseason matches."

Jake raised an eyebrow. This was big.

Last season, injuries had derailed Bradford's momentum at crucial moments. If he had this function back then, he could have gotten key players back weeks earlier.

A smirk formed at the corner of his lips.

No more waiting helplessly for fitness reports.

The squad was built. The system was evolving.

And in four days, Al Nassr would be the first to see exactly what this team was capable of.