Mathias Alves and Lucien became the main focus as a terrifying top-scoring duo. Duvant and Eden were also highly praised as the assist kings of the first half of the season. Not only that, the media began to highlight the incredible potential of Bradford City's young pyers. Names like Lucas, Mathias, Lucien, Duvant, Eden, Ollie Walcot, and Harry began to be linked with interest from big teams, ranging from League One to the Championship.
However, behind the praise and glory, concerns arose among the fans. They began to fear losing the young heroes who had become symbols of the club's hope. News of interest from big clubs became increasingly rife, seemingly reinforcing that anxiety.
Transfer rumors began to surface in various media outlets:
Hull City was reportedly preparing a ￡1,000,000 bid to acquire Mathias Alves.
Watford was trying to snatch Lucien with a proposal of ￡800,000.
Bolton Wanderers showed interest in Duvant with a ￡600,000 offer.
Millwall was keen to bring in Harry and submitted a ￡300,000 million offer.
Swansea City bid ￡400,000 for Lucas.
Meanwhile, Mike received the highest offer from a League One club at ￡800,000.
Eden, as the team's main creator, also attracted interest from foreign clubs with a ￡950,000 offer.
Ollie Walcot even received offers reaching ￡700,000, likely due to his consistent good performances despite limited pying time.
These news stories graced the front pages of local sports media.
Several headlines even highlighted these rumors:
"Will Bradford sell their pyers?"
On social media, supporters began to voice their concerns:
"If Mathias leaves, I feel like this season will drastically change. He's a symbol of this team's revival."
"Please don't sell Lucien, he has star potential. We need him for promotion this season!"
"We're on a golden path, don't let money break this team apart..."
"Nooo my Duvant"
However, not all comments were negative. Some supporters were actually curious about manager Reinhart's maneuvers ahead of the soon-to-open winter transfer window.
"If some leave, who will come in? I believe Reinhart already has a pn."
"Don't forget, Reinhart is a visionary. Maybe he'll bring in pyers we don't expect."
Now, the atmosphere around the club was filled with two sides: hope for retaining the young stars, and curiosity about the team's strategy in facing the transfer window. One thing was certain—all eyes were on Bradford City's next steps in maintaining their promotion dream this season.
In a quiet office room, Reinhart sat alone, his eyes fixed on the monitor screen and a stack of documents. Articles and transfer rumors regarding Bradford City's young pyers filled various media pages. The silent atmosphere was broken when Reinhart turned and called one of his trusted men, Axell Witsell.
"Axell," he said, "I need data... how much transfer funds can we allocate for the winter window?"
Axell, a young financial manager who would become very famous in the future for his brilliance and honesty, calmly handed over a document. Reinhart briefly recalled the early days when he recruited Axell—a fresh graduate who was immediately hired when the club sold many pyers. So far, Axell had proven his ability to manage cash flow and keep the club's finances stable.
Although Axell had not been mentioned before because he focused on managing Bradford's cash flow from within.
Axell looked at Reinhart before asking, "Boss, are you really going to sell those pyers? Their value is high right now... this could be a golden opportunity."
Reinhart smiled and replied calmly, "The decision to move is entirely in the hands of the pyers. But remember, I won't let this team suffer losses. I will only consider their departure if the offers exceed ￡80 million."
"Eighty? Are you kidding?" Axell's eyes widened. "We're still in League Two, boss..."
Reinhart looked at him sharply but with conviction. "Right now, yes. But not for the seasons to come. These young pyers will become the most valuable stars. Selling them now... that would be foolishness."
Axell nodded slowly. He didn't fully understand the team's strategy, but he knew Reinhart was no ordinary person.
A few moments ter, Reinhart reread the document and noted the avaible transfer funds: ￡1.6 million. He began to compile a list of pyers to be retained and who could be released.
The next day, several pyers were called to his office. Without many words, they understood the purpose of the summons. They knew their contributions had not been optimal, and Reinhart respectfully expined his decision. Their names were eventually pced on the transfer list.
However, not all departures came from the coach's decision. Several important pyers actually came forward and requested transfers, whether due to higher sary offers, personal ambition, or the desire to py at a higher level. Reinhart, although reluctant, understood their decisions.
The winter transfer window, which would soon open, might begin with the departure of their key pyers.
The opening match of the second half was held at the University of Bradford Stadium. Their opponent this time was Barrow AFC, a team that had been in turmoil due to an internal scandal, forcing them to release their coach and almost all their key pyers. Now, Barrow appeared with a young squad under a new coach, Alexander.
Reinhart was surprised. Despite consisting of young pyers, Barrow appeared full of spirit and discipline. Their success in getting out of the relegation zone with a winning streak at the end of the first half was no coincidence. Alexander looked calm on the sidelines, leading his team with confidence.
However, Barrow's spirit was not enough to withstand the pressure from Bradford. The first half ended with two goals for the home team—one from a solo run by Park, and the other from a spectacur long-range shot by Eden.
In the second half, hell began for Barrow. When Bradford's key pyers—Mathias, Harry, Duvant, Ollie, and Lucien—entered the field, the tempo of the game immediately changed.
Mathias Alves performed exceptionally and scored four goals in less than 40 minutes, delivering one of the best performances of the season.
However, at the end of the second half, Barrow's young striker managed to score one goal.
The final score was 6-1. A resounding victory for Bradford.
Mathias once again showed that he was a very deadly threat to Barrow's defense.
However, what happened after the final whistle was actually touching. The Bradford supporters stood up and gave a standing ovation to the young Barrow pyers, appreciating their fighting spirit, which even allowed them to score a goal in the final minutes.
Coach Alexander also approached Reinhart after the match. They shook hands with great respect.
"Thank you for the valuable lesson today," said Alexander.
Reinhart smiled, "You are the future team. Keep growing."
With that, Barrow's future now began to take shape with its new regeneration.