"Sterling's interview crossed a line that cannot be ignored," John W. Henry said, his palms resting flat against the mahogany desk. "Hearing those comments directly from his own mouth removes any doubt about his loyalty."
"Liverpool will not be held hostage by a twenty-year-old winger."
The principal owner looked across the room, his voice steady and cold. "There is no future for him at this club. If he wants a way out, we will grant his departure on our terms."
Seated on the leather sofa opposite the desk were Michael Edwards, Jürgen Klopp, and Renzo Uzumaki.
Renzo had been pulled into the boardroom by Edwards before the morning training session. It was unusual for an active player to sit inside an executive transfer meeting, yet Henry had merely nodded when the teenager walked through the door before diving straight into the crisis.
Renzo felt zero surprise at Sterling's rebellion.
In another life, the English winger had orchestrated this exact standoff. At Manchester City, Sterling had always claimed his departure was about squad depth and European ambitions rather than the paycheck.
Yet in this timeline, Liverpool possessed a reinforced squad and guaranteed Champions League football for the autumn.
The underlying motivation remained identical to what supporters had suspected from the start: money.
"Michael, Manchester City submitted a formal inquiry," Henry said, turning his gaze toward the sporting director. "What are the numbers on the table?"
"Their opening proposal sits at forty-five million pounds," Edwards answered cleanly. "They want the deal closed before the preseason tour. Once official negotiations open, I am confident we can drive the final package up to forty-eight million."
"Proceed immediately," Henry instructed with a wave of his hand. "I do not want an unsettled player lingering around Melwood."
Klopp leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Mr. Henry, losing Raheem leaves an immediate void on the flank. If we intend to challenge for the title, we must secure an established replacement before the window shuts."
"Of course," Henry replied. "Identify the replacement without delay. The earlier the new arrival integrates into training, the faster he adapts to our pressing triggers. Reinvest the entire Sterling fee into the wide position."
Edwards tapped his pen against a leather notebook. "I already have our primary target in mind."
"Ever since talks with Raheem began to drag, I prepared for the possibility of an exit and tracked alternatives across the continent."
"Who do you have?" Henry asked.
Edwards turned his eyes toward Renzo, a slight grin touching the corners of his mouth. "Mohamed Salah. Chelsea's winger, who spent the spring on loan in Florence."
Klopp's eyes lit up instantly, while Renzo raised his eyebrows in mild surprise.
Henry rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "The Egyptian from Fiorentina? He finished second in their squad scoring charts, if I recall."
"He was exceptional," Klopp interjected, his voice carrying genuine excitement. "Reviewing Fiorentina's tapes over the summer, Salah's acceleration stood out alongside Renzo's distribution. His direct speed matches Raheem, but his delivery into the box, technical control, and work rate without the ball are far superior."
"More importantly, he spent half a year sharing a pitch with Renzo. Their understanding is already established. Bring Salah to Anfield, and our frontline gains immediate cohesion."
Henry looked intrigued, but leaned back in his chair with a cautious expression. "Coming off that kind of season in Italy, will Chelsea entertain a domestic sale?"
"The contract situation favors us," Edwards explained calmly. "When Chelsea signed him from Basel in 2013, he agreed to a three-year deal. He is entering his final twelve months, expiring in 2016."
"Under normal circumstances, Chelsea would prioritize an extension. Yet since returning to London, there has been complete silence regarding a new deal."
Edwards looked directly at Renzo. "Renzo, reports in Italy indicated you were closest to Salah during his loan spell. Is that accurate?"
Renzo thought for a moment before offering an honest answer. "He was generous with his praise to the press. We had a solid understanding on the pitch."
Klopp chuckled warmly. "Modesty aside, eighty percent of his goals in Italy arrived from your service. Without your passes through the lines, his valuation does not triple in six months. If he trusts anyone in European football right now, it is you."
Edwards slid his phone across the glass table toward the teenager.
"Call him now, Renzo. Inquire about his talks in London."
"If the situation is open, let him know Liverpool is prepared to bring him to Merseyside to continue that partnership. See how he reacts."
The approach was direct and unorthodox, yet Renzo picked up the device without hesitation.
Finding the saved contact from his time in Tuscany, he pressed the dial button and brought the speaker to his ear.
The line rang three times before connecting, and an energetic voice answered immediately.
"Renzo? It has been weeks. What made you pick up the phone?"
After exchanging brief updates about their respective summer breaks, Renzo guided the conversation toward London.
"You had an incredible run in Florence, Mohamed. Chelsea must have a new deal waiting on your desk. I imagine your wages will take a leap, so dinner in London is on your bill next time."
A noticeable pause settled over the line.
"Has their front office not initiated talks yet?" Renzo probed gently.
Salah sighed softly into the receiver. "No, the opposite. The offer arrived the week I returned to Cobham."
"I have simply delayed signing it."
Salah hesitated, then continued in a lower tone. "My first spell at Stamford Bridge was difficult. I barely saw the grass, and that memory lingers."
"My numbers in Italy were built on your service, Renzo. Everyone in London expects me to step into the side and produce identical statistics immediately. If their system isolates me on the touchline again, my career takes another backward step."
"The thought of committing long-term makes me cautious."
Across the table, Edwards caught Renzo's eye and gave a firm nod.
"Mohamed," Renzo said evenly. "Have you considered a different environment?"
"What do you mean?"
"Liverpool needs a dynamic winger," Renzo answered. "The manager and the board hold complete respect for your game. If you have an appetite for it, they want to bring you to Anfield."
Complete silence followed on the line.
Then Salah's voice returned, carrying clear astonishment. "Are you serious, Renzo? Is this your initiative, or does the club know?"
Renzo cleared his throat. "The sporting director and the manager are sitting across from me right now. If you want to link up again, Liverpool will submit a formal proposal to Chelsea."
A sudden burst of laughter came through the speaker.
"I would pack my bags tonight," Salah said, the excitement unmistakable in his tone. "Playing ahead of your vision was the easiest football of my career. If the clubs can agree, I want the move."
Renzo smiled, leaning back against the sofa cushions. "Keep your signature off their paperwork. Let Liverpool manage the negotiations."
As the call disconnected, Edwards clapped his hands together with a wide grin.
"Brilliant work, Renzo," Edwards said, turning toward John W. Henry. "Salah's priority is playing ahead of Renzo's passing. If the player makes his preference clear to their board, Chelsea loses all leverage."
"Now, we manage the timing."
Edwards tapped his notebook. "We delay closing the Sterling sale to Manchester City for another week. If we bank forty-eight million pounds first, Chelsea will inflate their valuation of Salah knowing we have cash burning a hole in our pockets."
"We secure Salah on a cut-price fee due to his contract length, lock down our wide replacement, and then squeeze Manchester City for every last penny on Sterling."
Henry nodded, thoroughly impressed by the tactical maneuvers. "Execute the strategy, Michael. Let us see the deal across the line."
Cobham Training Centre, London.
Inside the executive suite of Chelsea Football Club, Marina Granovskaia leaned over her desk, reviewing player files with a tense, focused expression.
"What is delaying the signature?" Marina asked, looking up at her assistant. "He reported back from Italy nearly three weeks ago. Is the salary package insufficient?"
"The proposed wage tier places him within our top three earners."
Known across European football for her unyielding negotiation style, Marina operated on cold logic.
A player coming off an exceptional loan spell, offered elite wages by the reigning champions of England, held zero rational reason to stall.
Her assistant cleared his throat nervously. "Liverpool submitted a formal transfer inquiry for Salah this morning."
Marina's brow furrowed into an icy glare. "Liverpool? Reject it immediately. We do not sell prospective talent to domestic rivals."
Manchester City had already made quiet inquiries about the Egyptian before shifting their focus to Sterling. Chelsea had shut that door with an emphatic refusal.
Salah was Marina's personal acquisition from Basel, and after enduring months of media criticism regarding his quiet debut year, his explosive season in Italy had completely vindicated her scouting instincts.
Allowing him to leave was out of the question.
Noticing that her assistant remained standing by the doorway, Marina's patience snapped.
"Did I not speak clearly? Issue an immediate refusal to Liverpool's office."
The assistant swallowed hard, holding his tablet with both hands. "Salah's representative called twenty minutes ago."
"He stated that Salah has zero intention of extending his contract, and formally requested that the club facilitate a transfer to Anfield."
Marina's eyes widened, a flash of genuine shock breaking across her usually impenetrable composure.
Turning down an external bid was routine.
Yet if the player refused to sign and actively demanded a destination with one year remaining on his deal, Chelsea's negotiating position had just collapsed beneath her feet.
I've made some changes to the tier system. You can now access all three football novels with one membership, with chapters available ahead of the public release.