The Coaching System-Chapter 141: Transfers & Tough Decisions

Jake leaned back in his chair, arms crossed as he stared at the system's latest recommendations. His office was quiet, the only sound coming from the faint hum of the laptop cooling fan. A cup of coffee sat untouched on his desk, long gone cold.

Three names were displayed on the screen.

Roney Bardghji.

Matthew Cox.

Reece Holloway.

Jake exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple.

Bardghji was no surprise. The Swedish winger was already one of the most highly-rated young prospects in Europe. Quick, technical, and fearless in one-on-one situations, he had the ability to change a game in an instant. If Bradford somehow pulled off this signing, he'd instantly elevate their attack.

But that was the problem—pulling it off.

Bardghji was being tracked by top clubs across England, Spain, and Germany. Manchester United had been linked with him. Borussia Dortmund had made contact. Even AC Milan had reportedly sent scouts to watch him play.

So how was Jake supposed to convince him to join a newly promoted Championship side?

Money? Out of the question. Bradford couldn't compete financially.

Prestige? They didn't have that either.

The only thing Jake had to offer was trust and playing time.

At a big club, Bardghji would spend years on the bench, waiting for opportunities. At Bradford, he could walk in and start every week, becoming the face of an ambitious, up-and-coming team.

It wasn't much. But maybe, just maybe, it was enough.

Jake's eyes moved down the list.

Matthew Cox.

The 18-year-old English goalkeeper was a different type of signing. Tall, composed, and already showing glimpses of a future Premier League-level shot-stopper. He wasn't ready to be a first-choice keeper yet, but Bradford needed depth in goal.

Okafor was the clear No.1. He had proved himself last season. But beyond him? There wasn't much.

Jake liked the idea of signing Cox and letting him develop. Give him cup games, train him under Okafor, and in a few years, he could be their future No.1.

Then there was Reece Holloway.

A young right-back from England. Not a household name. No media hype. But if the system flagged him, there had to be something special about him.

Jake tapped his fingers against the desk.

Holloway was the unknown factor. While Bardghji and Cox had clear potential, Holloway was a wildcard. Would he be a future star? Or just another Championship-level talent?

Jake wasn't going to take the system's word for it. He needed more information.

Just as he was about to check Holloway's scouting reports, his phone vibrated.

He glanced at the screen. Michael Stone.

Jake sighed and picked up the phone. Whatever this was, it wasn't going to be good news.

the screen lighting up with a notification.

Michael Stone: Chelsea just submitted an official bid for Lukas Novak. We need to talk.

Jake exhaled through his nose, rubbing his temple before picking up the phone. He read the message twice, then set it back down without replying.

Chelsea.

He had known this was coming. It had been inevitable.

Novak had been too good last season—29 goals, 5 assists, match-winners, moments of brilliance. He had carried Bradford when they needed him most. He wasn't just a striker; he was the heart of their attack.

And now the big clubs had noticed.

Jake leaned back in his chair, his mind already racing through the consequences. Selling Novak would bring in a massive amount of money.

Enough to fund multiple signings—maybe even all three of the targets sitting on his screen.

Roney Bardghji. His transfer fee wouldn't be cheap. He was a generational talent, and if Bradford had any chance of signing him, they needed financial muscle.

Matthew Cox. A promising goalkeeper. Not a priority, but a long-term investment.

Reece Holloway. A left-back flagged by the system, though Jake still needed more information.

Selling Novak could transform the squad. Depth. Talent. Future-proofing.

But it would also leave a gaping hole up front.

A team built around Novak's goals suddenly… without him?

Could they afford to lose him?

Jake stared at the desk, his thoughts tangled between logic and instinct. He had always been a manager who made ruthless decisions when necessary.

But this one?

This wasn't just about money.

His phone vibrated again. Another text from Michael.

Michael Stone: Let me know when you're free. Also, do you want me to put Castellón, Harper, and Simmons on the market?

Jake blinked, momentarily pulled from the Novak dilemma. Right. The sales.

Diego Castellón. A winger who had failed to make an impact. Too inconsistent. Always injured. Wolves, Lille, and Wolfsburg had already shown interest.

Elliot Harper. A midfielder who worked hard but wasn't Championship quality. There was no space for him anymore.

Jack Simmons. A backup goalkeeper who never progressed beyond a solid second choice. Okafor was the undisputed No.1, and if Bradford were bringing in a new young keeper, Simmons would be surplus to requirements.

They needed to go.

Jake grabbed his phone and typed back a quick reply.

Jake: Yes, list them. Also, assign scouts to Cox and Holloway. I want reports ASAP.

Michael: Got it. I'll get the offers moving.

Jake placed the phone down, exhaling.

It didn't take long.

Barely an hour after Michael Stone put the players on the market, Jake's phone buzzed with a series of notifications.

Wolves, Lille, and Wolfsburg had all submitted £3M bids for Diego Castellón. No surprise there—despite his inconsistency, his raw talent was still enough to attract buyers from top leagues. The injury history made him a risk, but at 23, clubs still believed they could revive his career.

Elliot Harper had received minimal interest—only one Championship club had inquired. Not surprising. Hard-working, decent stamina, but limited technically. A squad player at best. Bradford had outgrown him.

Jack Simmons, on the other hand, had drawn little attention. The market for second-choice goalkeepers was always slow. Clubs wanted either an elite starter or a cheap veteran backup—Simmons was stuck in between. Bradford's search for a young keeper meant he was now expendable, but finding a buyer wouldn't be easy.

Jake leaned back, tapping his fingers against the desk.

No movement on Harper or Simmons yet. Castellón would likely be gone soon, but the other two? That would take more work.

He exhaled, running a hand down his face.

Pre-season hadn't even started yet.

And the transfer window was already turning into a war.

Headlines & Fan Café – A Club on Edge

Jake barely had time to process the transfer offers before his phone buzzed again. This time, it wasn't from Michael Stone.

It was from the media.

A notification popped up from one of the major football outlets, followed by another… and another.

The headlines hit him like a hammer.

"Novak May Leave Bradford for Chelsea" – Sky Sports

"Chelsea Submits Major Bid for Lukas Novak" – BBC Sport

"Bradford City's Star Striker Set for Stamford Bridge?" – The Athletic

Jake exhaled sharply, setting his phone down. So, the news had leaked.

He wasn't surprised. A bid from Chelsea for a striker as lethal as Novak was always going to make headlines. Now, the speculation would start. The reporters, the analysts, the endless debates.

But nothing—absolutely nothing—spread faster than fan reactions.

Within minutes, the Bradford Fan Café had erupted into chaos.

Fan Café – The Divide Begins

The club's biggest online forum, usually buzzing with transfer gossip and tactical discussions, had turned into a battlefield.

The top post on the homepage had already gathered hundreds of comments.

"NO. WE CAN'T SELL NOVAK." – posted by CityTillIDie

The responses were immediate.

BantamLegend: This is a disaster. We can't replace 29 goals. If we sell him, we might as well give up now.

WilsonMagic: If Novak leaves, we're finishing mid-table. Simple as that.

ForeverBradford: There is no one else like him. I don't care how much Chelsea is offering. Just say no, Jake.

But not everyone agreed.

RealistBantam: 30 million? 40 million? You know what we can do with that? Reinforce every weak spot in the squad. Football isn't about emotions—it's about business.

TransferGuru77: We can't stop him if he wants to go. Take the money and find a replacement.

BradfordScout: We need a winger, a midfielder, and a young keeper. If Novak's sale funds all that, maybe it's the right move.

The argument raged on.

Some fans wanted to keep Novak at all costs. Others were already listing potential replacements.

Some were in denial. Others were bracing for the inevitable.

Jake scrolled through the chaos, his expression unreadable.

This wasn't just a transfer.

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

It was a decision that would define Bradford's season.

And it was all on him.