A Happy Problem! A Weekly Wage Rise!

A Happy Problem! A Weekly Wage Rise!

Half an hour later, in the Sheffield First Team manager's office.

Since it was not appropriate to negotiate the senior players' salaries together, Maël walked into the office first and sat down opposite Gareth Speed, while Gilbert waited outside for the time being.

"I know, Mr. Wenger. But I think we still need to communicate a little more."

When Maël came in, Gareth Speed was on the phone with Wenger, and merely gestured for him to sit down first.

After sitting down, he noticed that Gareth Speed's expression was rather grave, his voice very low. "A pay rise during a loan spell is somewhat complicated. Many of The FA's clauses aren't comprehensive, and the specifics still depend on the two clubs.

"My proposal benefits both sides. I hope Mr. Wenger will consider it."

At first, Maël thought Sheffield would have to shoulder part of his wage increase, which was why Gareth Speed was reacting this way.

But on second thought, that seemed unlikely.

After arriving at the club, he knew better than anyone how Gareth Speed had treated him. Besides, judging from his recent performances, Gareth Speed should not refuse a pay rise.

From the perspective of the player market, stronger players earned higher wages. That was an iron rule.

When income and ability did not match, over time it could very easily destabilize a player's mentality and worsen his performances.

Naturally, clubs would not be greedy over such a small advantage. They wished more than anything to keep better players with higher wages, and would even actively look for opportunities like this.

Arsenal's decision to take the initiative and propose a pay rise was the best example.

"Yes, Sheffield United is willing to cover the player's entire salary after the raise."

Gareth Speed was about to light a cigarette at his desk, but stopped when he saw Maël. "We only hope Arsenal won't recall the player halfway through and will remove the recall clause."

So that was it. Maël understood at once. His contract included an agreement that Arsenal had the right to recall him halfway through the season.

This time, by using his pay rise as the opportunity, Sheffield wanted to remove that agreement by taking on the full burden of his salary.

They wanted to keep him, at least for one season! Maël then saw Gareth Speed grit his teeth and press his lips together before nodding helplessly. "All right, then... as for the specifics, let's see what the player thinks."

After hanging up, Gareth Speed had just been about to say something when Maël cut him off with a smile. "Sir, I understand what both sides mean."

After saying that, he did not continue. Gareth Speed did not answer either. The atmosphere in the office fell into silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"I've thought it through."

After a long while, Gareth Speed seemed to understand Maël's thoughts. Sometimes, conversations between people did not require too many words. "Then let's talk about the wages. Mr. Wenger's side means raising your weekly wage to 10k.

"And removing the previous clause in the contract of 20k after 20 appearances, replacing it with 20k wages after '15 goal contributions.'

"Tomorrow, someone should come to Sheffield with the contract. My main role here is to ask your opinion in person on their behalf."

Maël was not prepared to haggle. He simply smiled and nodded in agreement. "I think it's great. No problem."

The club taking the initiative to propose a pay rise represented their sincerity. If he acted coy and fussy at this point, it would only make him seem insatiably greedy.

Besides, going from 2.5k to 10k was indeed already very good.

After all, he had only played two professional league matches. No matter how dazzling he had been, people would still suspect he might not have enough stamina for the long run.

When dealing with clubs early in his career, it was best to fight for less and build a closer relationship between both sides, cooperating amicably.

Once he truly achieved certain results and his personal value and reputation were relatively stable, it would not be too late to fight for all kinds of guarantees for himself.

"Maël."

Before they parted, there was bitterness at the corners of Gareth Speed's eyes, but he was smiling. "Tell me, should I hope you keep being this astonishing, or hope you're merely steady and make the occasional contribution?

"This is clearly a happy problem. Whichever one I choose, it feels wrong."

"Two clubs being like this is actually a happy problem for me too." Maël shook his head and smiled, telling the truth.

This was probably something he would inevitably experience as he grew. It was not as though a person would have no worries at all just because he was charging ahead in triumph.

There was nothing indecisive about it either. If he wanted to play in a top league sooner, he had to make choices, and in the future, endure the reluctance that came with parting.

After leaving the office, Maël waited a while for Gilbert. Only then did he put aside his distracting thoughts and properly savor it.

A 10k wage meant more than forty thousand pounds a month!

After setting aside taxes and so on, he could still keep more than twenty thousand pounds. His income level had risen dramatically!

That could really give a person a sense of security. Money was courage, after all.

Counting his savings, he had initially received a Thirty Thousand Pounds Signing Fee. After a little over two months here, his after-tax salary was around fifteen thousand pounds.

Add in the 6,000-pound bonus from his first appearance, the 9,500-pound bonus from his last match, and the 4,000-pound endorsement fee from just a short while ago.

His total income was around sixty-five thousand pounds. After setting aside daily expenses such as the rental deposit, as well as the money he had sent home, he still had more than fifty thousand pounds left.

"If I take another few months of wages and bonuses, it'll be enough to buy a little sports car."

He smiled. Since he was waiting for Gilbert anyway, he called his uncle to tell him the good news while also confirming when the family would come to the United Kingdom.

His salary would definitely keep rising. Spending some money on his only relatives in this world, repaying them for raising him, was naturally a good thing.

"How much?!"

His uncle Clermont's voice sounded almost out of control. On the other end, he sharply sucked in a cold breath. After a moment of silence, he sighed and said, "I've been watching your matches all along. I guessed you might be about to make it big, but I didn't expect it to happen so quickly.

"How long has it been, Maël? I feel like I'm living in a dream, watching you go from 800 pounds to 2,500 pounds and then to a weekly wage of ten thousand pounds. This is just too incredible."

"I'm almost afraid I'll wake up again and you'll suddenly have raised your salary to Thirty Thousand Pounds."

Maël smiled from the heart. After coming to this other world, he had slowly and completely accepted his uncle and aunt, treating them as family.

People needed something to lean on. They needed someone to care about.

Right now, he had not started a family, nor did he know many people. Clermont's home was a place he valued highly.

After saying that, he brought up the matter of the whole family coming to the United Kingdom.

"It might have to be October. Ava's been having conflicts with her classmates at school, and she's been a bit withdrawn when she comes home. I've been discussing it with her teacher lately."

After hearing his uncle's words, Maël nodded slightly. Thinking over the schedule, he said, "Then let's make it early October. There'll be a home match then."

Once they had finished discussing it, they hung up.

Maël thought for a while and planned to send a few thousand pounds back later so his uncle could find psychological counseling for Ava.

His uncle and aunt's family still lived a hard life. The two of them worked until very late every day, and they did not have much time to spend with the children when they got home.

As his income gradually grew, he could ease the pressure at home and let them spend more time with the children.

Before long, Gilbert walked out of the office with an excited look on his face. "Eight K. It's not as much as yours, but it's still great."

Thrilled, he threw an arm around Maël's shoulders. After walking all the way out of the Administration Building, he took a breath of fresh air and shouted, "Seventeen years old and earning more than thirty thousand pounds a month—do you know how awesome that feels?"

Looking at the youthful energy on his face, Maël touched his own still-young face again. That was right. He was only seventeen too.

How could all of this not feel exhilarating?