Chapter 133
Chapter 133
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 133
Chapter Title: 2022-2023 Season, Championship (4)
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This season, Manchester United's transfer budget was a whopping £200 million (₩324.3 billion).
It was an amount tailored to the inflation in the transfer market.
And the first thing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did with this astronomical sum in hand was to secure Manchester United's future.
"Think back to Fergie's academy days."
In Manchester United's stately conference room.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer faced the board members, a warm smile spreading across his face as he continued.
"David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, and the rest. They weren't just stars at Manchester United—they shook up all of Europe with our fantastic results."
Solskjaer's expression turned rueful then, and he shook his head slowly.
"But... our youth system is falling behind the competition these days. We're even lagging behind Chelsea now."
There were players like Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard, and Mason Greenwood, sure, but compared to the glory days, their impact was undeniably weaker.
The generations after them were opting to leave the club after losing out in the pecking order rather than sticking around.
"That's why I intend to lead signings that look out for the club's present—and its future. Amad Diallo was one such move."
After Ed Woodward stepped down as executive director, Solskjaer had gained full control over transfers.
For Manchester United, splashing £1 million (₩1.6 billion) or even £2 million (₩3.2 billion) was pocket change.
But the board members present weren't thrilled with Solskjaer.
That was why he was putting on this persuasion show right there in the conference room.
At that moment, Darren Fletcher, the technical director seated directly in front of Solskjaer, spoke up.
"You've pushed for loans back to their original clubs instead of having these new youngsters play for our reserves."
"I figured playing at Championship level would be better fuel for their growth than reserves."
"There's talk it's not just for that reason."
"Not just for that reason?"
Solskjaer blinked back at him with wide, innocent eyes.
Fletcher cleared his throat lightly.
"Ahem. You've brought in three players recently... but weren't they all hijacked from Bolton?"
"Be honest. Is this payback against Bolton?"
Josh Lewis, the head of football operations sitting next to Fletcher, chimed in.
Solskjaer let out a disbelieving smile.
"Payback? That's absurd."
"So it was just a coincidence?"
To the board, Solskjaer's recruitment methods weren't a huge issue.
They wanted to future-proof the club too, just like with Amad Diallo.
The process had been clean.
Solskjaer had sold off unnecessary talents from the squad and used the proceeds to snap up fresh young prospects.
But the rumors were the problem.
The press had been reporting that Manchester United kept intercepting Bolton's targets.
And the United board saw that as a matter of pride.
That was when it happened.
"Of course, I'm targeting Bolton's marks on purpose."
Fletcher and Lewis's eyes met awkwardly for a split second as Solskjaer let out a chuckle.
"You're deliberately going after Bolton's targets?"
Josh Lewis shot back, his face full of confusion.
Paxson Harris, the director who had been silent until then, stroked his chin and asked.
"Why?"
Solskjaer nodded shamelessly.
"Simple reason. Bolton had a very successful transfer window over the past year."
Step, step, step.
After the board meeting, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer walked down the corridor.
His expression, unlike moments ago, was stiff and hardened.
Deep down, he thought.
*As much as I hate to admit it, I have to.*
You could tell just from their results over the past year and a half.
Bolton's Ma had overhauled the squad, practically turning it over completely rather than just rebuilding.
He'd brought in players from League Two and even League One, and thrown in forgotten injury cases too.
*And the result? League One champions.*
That was why the board hadn't criticized him rashly.
Even Josh Lewis, the head of football operations, was one of those smitten by Owen Fresais.
So paying a hefty fee for him was no issue at all.
It was chump change for United anyway.
*Plus, the impact he's had against us is massive.*
He'd hammered United with screamers from distance in the friendly and then the FA Cup.
Now Bolton had climbed to the Championship and had time to regroup their squad.
And Solskjaer had no intention of just watching.
*Damn you, Ma...!*
He ground his teeth at the mere thought.
Even so, Solskjaer held Bolton's scouting and signing ability in high regard.
That's why he'd hijacked without hesitation.
*Young, overflowing talents? The more, the better.*
That was another reason the board hadn't pressed him hard in the meeting.
*Aside from Pak the prodigy and Owen, the fees were negligible.*
The costs had topped out at £2 million (₩3.2 billion)—a pittance for a club United's size.
That was easily covered by the sales of existing players.
On top of that, Solskjaer was pushing present-day signings too while prepping for the future.
Like the negotiations underway for Dortmund's Erling Haaland.
Solskjaer was confident it'd go his way, bursting into a hearty laugh.
"Puhaha."
Of course, the root goal was to throw a massive wrench into Bolton's transfer market.
If the hijacked players from Bolton turned into jackpots along the way? Even better.
Right then.
Ken Cranky, the loans and transfers officer, was approaching from down the corridor.
"Gaffer? You were here?"
No coincidence—Ken stopped in front of Solskjaer and handed over a binder.
"Was just coming to see you."
"What's this?"
Solskjaer flashed his signature warm smile as he flipped it open.
"The release list you asked for."
"Hmm, good."
It was a dossier on reserves and U-19 players whose growth had stalled.
Solskjaer was ruthlessly selling them off to lower clubs or mutually terminating contracts.
"Proceed as is."
He handed the binder back with a beaming smile.
Solskjaer tried to walk past with a light heart, but he barely took three steps before stopping.
"What about Gary Todd?"
Ken Cranky asked, his voice laced with awkward sympathy.
Gary Todd had been a prodigious talent promoted to reserves at just 17.
A striker with wide-ranging activity, dropping deep to cover defensively—a true all-round forward.
But he was just raw potential now.
Last year's skull fracture had ruined him completely.
Solskjaer cut it short without a second thought.
"Offer a mutual termination. If he refuses, cut him loose. Compensation? What's a little penalty?"
* * *
[Bolton is facing headwinds in the transfer market.]
[Some say Manchester United is sabotaging their signings?]
[It's despicable!]
[Oh, come on, Muamba. Don't spout nonsense. Why would United bother messing with Bolton's transfers? What's in it for them?]
A soccer show played on the TV screen.
Fabrice Muamba, appearing as a pundit, ranted on behalf of Jeong-woo, who lounged crookedly in his executive chair, puffing away at a cigarette.
[It's not nonsense! This is the fourth time! United snatched four players Bolton had deals lined up for, all under the guise of future-proofing!]
It was undeniable.
Jeong-woo had pushed transfers before the window even opened, but they'd all fallen through.
[Even when Bolton kept it quiet, the selling clubs are leaking to the press first now.]
Just as he said—United's higher bids twice over had the sellers thinking *jackpot* and blabbing to the media.
"Hooo—!"
Jeong-woo exhaled gray smoke through the gap in his teeth, cigarette still in mouth.
"And then they play dumb, those bastards."
Of course players lit up at United's interest and agreed to move.
Even without guaranteed starts, the deals included loans back to origin clubs or to their preferred teams.
"Most clubs jump at loan deals with a giant like United."
Hoping for a crumb or two to trickle down.
Just like when he'd snagged Ethan Roberie from Manchester City.
The conclusion was simple.
"Fucking pricks."
The press claimed Solskjaer was purely future-focused, but Jeong-woo saw right through it.
"They're hell-bent on starving Bolton dry."
On top of offering mega-deals for Owen and prodigy Pak.
Even Jeong-woo was tempted.
Naturally, the Wanderers' reactions were all over the place.
Tap, tap.
Jeong-woo tapped his phone screen a few times and frowned.
The live comments alone showed how United's antics had thrown current Bolton fans into chaos.
- : Guys, think about it. They've offered £23 million total (₩373 billion) for Owen and Pak. That's enough for several name Championship players. When else will we see that kind of money?
- : Bullshit. Owen and Pak are Bolton's symbols now. Non-negotiable!
- : Honestly... tempting. But I'm scared we'll end up like Spurs. Search 'Gareth Bale's legacy.' It'll make you think twice...
- : Agree with 'Antonio.' They killed it in League One, but no guarantees in the Championship. Better take the cash and stock up on Championship-level players.
- : We should reject this! United's the enemy! We're basically local derby rivals!
: Pfft. That one-sided local derby crap from Bolton diehards. And guys—even if the club says no, will the players feel the same?
: This guy's a fake Wanderer, a spy.
"They're buying the press and public with cash."
Classic big-club bullying.
Pressuring Bolton this way to botch their Championship prep.
"They say looks don't lie."
Solskjaer's mug had screamed petty from the start, and here he was pulling petty stunts.
But Jeong-woo soon let out a deflating sigh.
"So what're you gonna do about it."
If they kept interfering like this, he had a decent counter.
A sly, ominous chuckle escaped him as he muttered.
"Time to sketch a big picture."