The Next Big Thing
Chapter 82: The Transfer Rumor

Chapter 82: The Transfer Rumor

The Derby County senior team was in the locker room, catching up after months apart. The room buzzed with laughter and chatter as they changed into their training tracksuits.

"Hey, what do you think the gaffer called David for?" Duane Holmes asked, his voice curious as he laced up his boots.

Ben Hamer, the team’s starting goalkeeper, smirked and said, "He probably misses his little star and wanted to have breakfast with him." His comment earned a round of laughter from the players.

Curtis Davies, the team captain, who had been slowly losing his spot as a starter, raised his voice over the laughter. "Hey, hey, that’s not funny. Why are you guys laughing?" His serious tone hushed the room for a moment.

Then, with a grin, he added, "They’re probably drinking a protein shake or something—knowing those two."

The entire locker room burst into laughter again, the camaraderie in full swing

Chris Martin, the team’s substitute striker, let out a deep sigh. "Man, I’m just glad to be out of the house. I really needed this," he said, slumping on the bench.

Max Bird, his close friend on the team, raised an eyebrow. "What’s got you so wound up? I figured you, of all people, would enjoy the break."

The rest of the team nodded in agreement, curiosity piqued. Chris had a reputation for being the laziest player on the squad—always the last to arrive and the first to leave. Yet, despite his lack of effort, he managed to keep his playing time. This was partly because the starting striker, Martyn, struggled with consistency, and partly because Chris had a knack for being in the right place at the right time. He held the record for the most last-minute goals on the team this season—a fact that kept him indispensable.

Chris sighed again, looking up at the ceiling as if reliving a painful memory. "Well," he began, "right before the pandemic hit, my mother-in-law came to visit. Then the lockdown happened... and she was stuck with us."

The locker room erupted in laughter as Chris shook his head, his weariness giving away the ordeal he’d endured at home.

"Damn," the whole team said, some still laughing. "Your mother-in-law, Chris?"

Chris could only respond with a resigned "Hmm, hmm."

Duane, still chuckling, added, "The same mother-in-law who didn’t want you to marry her daughter?"

Chris hummed in agreement, offering a small shrug.

Just then, Curtis Davies, the team captain, approached him and tapped him on the shoulder. "Man, sorry to hear that. I know how it feels. My lady just gave birth, so my mother-in-law at home too."

Chris gave him a knowing look and said loudly, "That’s not the same. Your mother-in-law loves you!"

Curtis sighed, shaking his head. "That’s not the issue. To celebrate to my newborn which all of you forgot to ask of by the way" he said earning whistles and look aways from the whole squad he then continued "my own mother came to visit. And because of the lockdown, they’re both trapped in the house together. So now, I’m stuck at home with a wife who just had a baby, a mother-in-law, and my mom—who can’t stand each other—and a newborn to take care of."

The locker room fell silent for a moment, everyone processing Curtis’ situation.

Finally, Chris broke the silence. "Damn... and I thought I had it bad."

Curtis sighed, then raised his voice to address the team. "Well, at least football’s back. We’ve got a match against Millwall in three days, so we need to prepare. We can’t let this lockdown mess ruin our hot streak!"

His words drew a collective cheer from the players, their excitement palpable. The atmosphere lightened as everyone returned to their activities—some chatting in small groups, others scrolling through their phones.

One thing, however, stood out: none of the players were following the five-feet-apart rule, not even Curtis, despite having a newborn at home just months ago. They’d been explicitly instructed to maintain distance until they were tested, but old habits clearly died hard in the close-knit locker room.

As the players continued dressing up and chatting, Jayden Bogle, who had already changed and was quietly scrolling through his phone, suddenly exclaimed, "It can’t be!"

His voice cut through the low hum of the rowdy locker room, silencing everyone.

"What’s wrong?" someone asked, curiosity piqued.

Jayden’s next words shocked them all. "David is moving to Manchester United," he said, earning a resounding "WHAT?" from the entire team.

Jason Knight, who was the closest to David both on and off the pitch, shot up from his seat. "David is what?" he asked, striding toward Jayden with urgency.

Jason leaned over to see Jayden’s phone, which displayed a headline that confirmed their worst fears:

🚨 Manchester United are set to sign 16-year-old England born Derby County talent for $18 million — a record transfer for Derby County! 🔴✨ #MUFC

The young winger, who has been sensational this season with 12 goals and 7 assists in 14 games, caught United’s eye with a stunning goal and a penalty won against them in the FA Cup 5th round — Both teams final matches before the break.

Agreements have been reached between both clubs. ✅ Personal terms are also agreed. It’s just a matter of time before the deal is finalized.

This is a very exciting transfer for Manchester United, as they secure one of the most consistent young players in England championship. 🌟📝

Here we go soon! ⏳

Comments:

@JamesM_Utd: Really? We’re buying a kid? What about Sancho? 🤦🏽‍♂️

@EthanC_20: We could even promote our young winger Elanga — that kid is good! 💯

@SophRich94: Damn, 19 G/A in 14 games? Maybe the kid is good. 👀

@AdamB_TrueBlue: Bro, it’s the Championship. Man U are so gonna lose. Blues for life. 💙

@LiamT_RedDevil: For those of you saying it’s "just the Championship," have you forgotten we played the kid at Old Trafford last? He absolutely demolished us! Scored a goal and was unplayable. 😤

@RooneyFan88: Yeah, I’ve been watching Derby games because of Rooney. The kid is really, really good. 🔥

@RealTalk_MUFC: Are you guys for real? You’re talking as if it’s hard to toy with Man U these days. We don’t need some untested kid who won’t offer anything. We need established players now.

@WhyNot_ManUtd: Why are you guys so mad? The kid is 16 years old! Let’s just wait — he could be the future we need. We’ve got to plan for the future!

@PaulieG_OG: What future, dude? We need immediate talent! Someone who can help us now, not a 16-year-old! For f***’s sake, what is my club thinking? 😡

While Jason read through the messages on Jayden’s phone, the rest of the team began murmuring among themselves.

"Maybe it’s fake," Curtis said, trying to keep the calm. "You know how these transfer rumors are. They lie a lot."

The team, however, wasn’t so easily convinced. Despite being professional footballers, aware that any one of them could be transferred at any time, the news hit harder than they expected. Some of them, especially those on the fringe of the starting lineup, might not even be with the club come summer. But they all understood how crucial David was to the team’s success.

They weren’t fools. Most of the players—apart from a few whose starting minutes David had taken—wanted him to stay. Without him, they didn’t believe they could continue their hot streak. He was an all-rounder: capable of dribbling, creating space, passing, and shooting. He brought a level of versatility and quality that the team couldn’t afford to lose. They knew they needed him, even if it was just for a little longer. But after only 14 games? That felt too fast, too sudden. They weren’t ready to let go.

Jayden nodded, his face serious. "Yeah, normally I wouldn’t believe it, but this is Fabrizio, man."

Curtis raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "And what does his name have to do with him being right?" he asked, trying to dismiss the news.

Curtis was the oldest player at the club, and his love for Derby County ran deep. He wanted nothing more than for the club to succeed, so to him, keeping David was crucial for the team’s future.

Max Bird, who had been listening, chimed in. "Dude, Fabrizio’s been the go-to guy for transfers since last year. He’s at least 95% accurate. If he’s saying this, it means David’s really leaving."

The team gathered around Jayden, who was still holding his phone, showing them the headline. The locker room buzzed with disbelief and concern, the reality starting to set in.

Just then, the door to the locker room creaked open. Everyone turned, and in walked the man they were all talking about—David Jones, the one that’s apparently bound for Manchester.

David paused at the entrance, sensing the charged atmosphere in the room. "What’s going on?" he asked, his voice laced with confusion as he scanned the faces of his teammates.

Curtis, who had been the most vocal, stepped forward, his gaze intense. "Is it true? Are you really going to Manchester United?" His words hung in the air, the whole locker room waiting for an answer.

David stood there for a moment, looking around the room. Every pair of eyes was fixed on him, fierce and expectant, as if silently demanding the truth. His teammates, the ones who had fought alongside him, were now faced with an uncertain future, and David could feel the weight of their gaze.

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