Saturday night, the routine pre-match press conference.

Li Shiguang did not attend; instead, Leeds United's chief assistant and assistant coach, Allen, attended in his place.

That's right. After Li Shiguang became the head coach, he made Allen, who held a junior coaching certificate, his assistant coach.

As soon as Allen took his seat on the podium, the media turned their attention to him, and the first question was quite pointed.

A reporter from The Times was the first to ask: "Mr. Allen, why didn't Mr. Li attend tonight's press conference? Was it influenced by the report in The Sun at noon?"

Allen hadn't answered yet.

Then I saw a reporter from The Sun roll his eyes and nudge the reporter who had just asked the question with his finger behind his back: "Can't you speak properly? What do you mean by being influenced by us?"

The first question is what everyone is most concerned about right now, so the previously noisy scene has quieted down, and everyone is staring at Allen expectantly to see how he will respond.

As a chief assistant who has long been engaged in a battle of wits with media reporters, Allen is not intimidated.

He moved the microphone closer to himself, coughed, and said, "Of course not. After all, tomorrow's match will basically determine who will be the final winner of this season's Championship. As the head coach, Mr. Li is very busy right now, and he is making final preparations for tomorrow's match. That is the real reason why he did not attend this press conference."

The reporters clearly did not believe Allen's very official response.

As soon as he finished speaking, some reporters eagerly raised their hands, indicating that they had more questions.

But Allen ignored the reporters and continued, "As for the report in The Sun that this reporter just mentioned, I can only say that it's complete nonsense. After all, it's The Sun, you know what I mean!"

After saying that, he nodded at the reporter from The Sun with a smile in his eyes.

Seeing that Allen was implying something, the reporter from The Sun couldn't sit still any longer and stood up to ask, "But, Mr. Allen, as far as I know, Leeds United has indeed received a lot of offers from other teams recently, and it seems that the targets are all key players in the team! This is quite different from what you just said."

Upon hearing his question, the other reporters present turned their attention back to Allen, as this was the question that everyone was truly concerned about!

As everyone knows, Leeds United is currently burdened with huge debts.

Therefore, if Li Shiguang does not intend to sell his shares after the season ends, selling the key players who performed well this season to pay off debts is the only option.

However, the season is not over yet, and the title race is tomorrow. The news that all the key players will leave the team now will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the atmosphere within Leeds United.

Moreover, Li Shiguang, who has not missed a single pre-match press conference in the past few months, "coincidentally" missed today's event because he had to prepare for tomorrow's match, which is quite intriguing.

Allen understood that this press conference would inevitably revolve around this issue, so his expression turned slightly serious before he spoke: "Sir reporter, regarding your question and your report, I can only respond to one point: we have indeed received offers for players within the team, but that's all—offers. Before the season ends, we haven't engaged in any substantive negotiations with any club! Therefore, your report that our key players will leave in the summer transfer window is utter nonsense!"

After saying that, Allen didn't offer any further explanation and simply got up and left the scene.

Upon hearing Allen's response, the reporters' faces lit up with excitement, and they all began to brainstorm their front-page headlines for tomorrow morning. Articles such as "Leeds United Receives Numerous Offers from Top Clubs to Buy Adebayor" and "The Young Guard's Road to Revival Encounters Setbacks" were expected to appear in tomorrow's major newspapers!

Allen, who had just returned to the hotel, was called to his room by Li Shiguang, who was supposedly making final preparations for the game.

Seeing Allen walk in, Li Shiguang put down his wine glass and gestured for Allen to sit down first.

Allen didn't stand on ceremony. He sat down, poured himself a glass of red wine, and then said, "Boss, as you instructed, I have already revealed at the press conference that we have received many offers."

Hearing Allen say that, Li Shiguang smiled and nodded with satisfaction. He didn't reply, but instead habitually stroked his chin and fell into deep thought.

That's right!

All of Allen's remarks at the press conference were instructed by Li Shiguang!

Even the news published in The Sun at noon was a rumor leaked by someone arranged by Li Shiguang.

The purpose is self-evident: to make Bates anxious.

Yesterday, after learning that Bates only had 9 million euros but was still making a strong offer to buy Tevez, I was deeply disappointed.

Li Shiguang finally completed and perfected the plan he had been working on.

He contacted Ferguson immediately, and after some negotiation, he offered to lower the price by 3 million euros, selling Tevez to Manchester United for 22 million euros.

However, he also put forward his two conditions.

First, Li Shiguang asked Ferguson to make a high-profile offer to Leeds United after the summer transfer window opened, and to spread rumors to the media that Manchester United was determined to acquire Tevez. He also said that if Li Shiguang did not sell, Manchester United would use the trigger on Tevez's contract release clause to complete the acquisition.

Secondly, Li Shiguang demanded that Ferguson not disclose Tevez's transfer to Manchester United before Leeds United did.

When Ferguson first received Li Shiguang's call, he thought the young man wanted to raise the transfer fee for Tevez.

Unexpectedly, after a brief chat, Li Shiguang didn't mention raising the price at all. Instead, he offered to lower the price by 3 million euros and sell Tevez to Manchester United.

Ferguson had been involved in football his entire life, and this was the first time he had ever encountered a player willing to lower his price to sell him to him.

Just before the call ended, Li Shiguang mentioned that West Bromwich Albion had also made an offer to Leeds United, and their target was also Tevez.

Ferguson understood instantly.

Although Howard did not play in Manchester United's 3-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion in the second half of the season, news of his poor performance after joining West Brom still occasionally reached Ferguson's ears.

He secretly mocked Bates for his poor judgment in spending so much money to buy Howard.

With the season nearing its end, Ferguson was well aware of West Bromwich Albion's repeated attempts to escape the relegation zone, so Bates was now under immense pressure, a situation Ferguson was also well aware of.

So Li Shiguang's seemingly unintentional remark immediately made the shrewd Ferguson smell a conspiracy, combined with Li Shiguang's earlier offer to lower the price and the two demands he made on the phone.

Ferguson already had a vague feeling about it.

Bates might be in serious trouble this time!