It turned out that Gao Shen, Lucas, and Borrell's judgment was correct.
While Leeds United were busy with their summer training in the United States, Liverpool, who were also preparing for the International Champions Cup in the US, arrived in Miami with their American owner John Henry and sporting director Michael Edwards.
They brought lawyers and a team, and held secret talks with Leeds United.
Before this, Liverpool and Leeds United had already had multiple contacts and exchanged their bottom-line prices.
In the end, Liverpool signed Brazilian midfielder Fabinho from Leeds United for 70 million euros.
This deal had been in negotiation for a long time. Liverpool's owner John Henry finally gritted his teeth and agreed to buy the player.
According to the current progress of the transfer, once the contract was signed, Fabinho would fly to New York with his agent to join Liverpool's training camp there and undergo a medical locally.
This was also common practice in the Premier League when signing players.
In European football, aside from Real Madrid, few clubs hold fan presentations for new stars. Usually, the player signs, takes a few photos, and the club issues a press release.
Fabinho and Liverpool had already reached agreement on wages during prior talks.
Liverpool would pay him up to 200,000 pounds per week, while at Leeds United he earned only 70,000 pounds per week.
In other words, Liverpool would be paying him an annual salary of up to 12 million euros.
This was also why Leeds United could not keep certain players.
For comparison, Kimmich's weekly salary at Leeds United was 50,000 pounds, though the club had already begun renewal talks and he was expected to reach 100,000 pounds per week next.
That was because Leeds United capped their maximum wage at 150,000 pounds.
Another defensive midfielder, Rodri, renewed in March with a weekly wage of 70,000 pounds.
After Fabinho's transfer to Liverpool, Leeds United would rely on Kimmich and Rodri in midfield to replace him and become the team's key figures in that area.
At present, Leeds United's wage control was actually quite solid.
Lucas had always worried that Gao Shen might compromise for Mbappé and disrupt the wage structure.
A lesson this summer came from Atlético Madrid.
Simeone's team had been a model of salary control, but this summer, to keep Griezmann, they offered him 23 million euros per year, the highest in the club's history.
That extension completely broke the wage structure, and the Atlético dressing room had many problems over the summer.
Often, wage control has a deep and lasting impact on the entire system.
…
Fabinho's big-money move to Liverpool shocked European football.
It was Leeds United's first major sale of the summer, and 70 million euros was a hefty fee.
British media reported that Leeds United had completely given up on competing for the Champions League.
"They never showed ambition at all!"
The media argued that in the past Leeds United could use their new training base and stadium projects as reasons to avoid heavy spending. Yet now, with the new stadium in use and last season's Premier League broadcast share reaching 150 million pounds, they were still selling players.
Did that look like a team aiming to compete in the Champions League?
Leeds United offered no response to the outside doubts.
The British media conceded that Leeds United were one of the smartest and healthiest clubs in Europe, but by no means the most successful.
"I bet if Leeds United don't change how they operate, they'll never win the Champions League."
"Last season was their final moment of glory."
The skepticism stemmed not only from Fabinho's move but also from ongoing transfer stories.
From Van Dijk to Dele Alli to Mane, and then to Fabinho, Kanté, Harry Kane, Mbappé, and others, almost all of Leeds United's core players were being targeted.
No matter how strong Leeds United were or how deep their bench was, could they really rebuild and continue to fight for the Champions League next season?
The media doubts were relentless, but Leeds United fans were indifferent.
They had seen it all before.
Every year, when Leeds sold players, the media said the same things. Then the following season, Leeds United answered with results. White Rose supporters were used to it.
As Leeds United legend Eddie Gray said in an interview, "They forget that Kimmich and Rodri also performed very well last season."
Kimmich was only 23, and Rodri only 22, both very young.
Eddie Gray believed Leeds United had rich experience developing young players, and the management knew exactly what they were doing. He believed Leeds United were ready.
"What I'm more curious about now is, between Kimmich and Rodri, who will be the best player in the new season?"
Just as outside doubts began to ease, Spanish outlet AS broke another bombshell.
"Earlier this morning, Real Madrid accepted Leeds United's terms to sign Dutch center-back Van Dijk for a staggering 150 million euros, setting a new world record fee for a central defender."
"At the same time, this transfer will match the fee record set by Felipe Anderson's move to Barcelona, making it the second-highest transfer fee in football history."
AS also revealed that Real Madrid had considered including players in the deal, but were rejected by Leeds United.
"The reason is that Real Madrid's players earn wages that do not fit Leeds United's structure."
According to AS, after joining Real Madrid, Van Dijk's annual salary would reach 15 million euros, equivalent to 250,000 pounds a week, nearly three times his Leeds United wage.
The AS report quickly drew worldwide attention.
They had just sold Fabinho, and now they were selling the defensive linchpin.
Was Leeds United dismantling their title-winning team?
If Fabinho and Van Dijk both left, how would Leeds United compete next season?
For a while, the entire European transfer market was in turmoil.
Real Madrid and Leeds United soon announced the transfer, confirming AS's report.
Regarding the continued sale of core players, Leeds United CEO Lucas was interviewed by The Times in the United States. He said the club could not compete with the top teams on wages and benefits, which was why they had struggled to keep players in recent years.
Even so, Lucas expressed confidence that Leeds United were prepared for the new season.
"We firmly believe the team remains competitive."
But before the dust settled, news from France emerged.
Paris Saint-Germain had signed World Cup winner N'Golo Kanté from Leeds United for a staggering 120 million euros.
This was the third major sale after Fabinho and Van Dijk, and Kanté was the backbone of the midfield.
For years, Kanté had been the team's tireless engine and had shown loyalty to the club. Unexpectedly, after last season's glory, Leeds United sold him this summer.
Leeds United's official website released a statement soon after, wishing Kanté success on his new journey and thanking him for his contributions over the years.
"The door of Leeds United will always be open for you."
Kanté, still on holiday, quickly tagged the club's official account on Twitter to express his gratitude and said that although he had left, he would always be part of Leeds United.
It was clear that both parties had parted on good terms.
Not just Kanté. Fabinho and Van Dijk had also left amicably.
This had always been Leeds United's way. Even when players left, there was rarely conflict, and the club's image remained strong.
Leeds United fans reacted emotionally to Kanté's sale.
He had always been beloved, especially for repeatedly rejecting big clubs to stay.
Now that even Kanté was gone, fans were conflicted.
Many wondered who would replace him next season.
Academy graduate Kalvin Phillips? Or the Uruguayan midfielder Valverde?
More importantly, who would be the next to be sold?
Given how top clubs were circling Leeds United's squad, fans were understandably worried.
They knew that Leeds United's wages could not compete with the biggest spenders.
…
Despite the continuous sales, Leeds United performed well in their US friendlies.
Before the International Champions Cup, Pochettino's team played Benfica and Dortmund in warm-ups, earning one draw and one win. They drew with Benfica, then beat Dortmund.
Then, in the ICC opener, Leeds United defeated Roma 4-1 in San Diego. Vardy scored twice and was excellent, while Milinković-Savić had one goal and one assist.
Leeds United's young players shocked everyone again.
Who would have thought they could play so brilliantly even before the World Cup players returned?
Just three days later, Leeds United beat Barcelona 4-2 in Miami. Two goals came from set pieces, one from a corner and one from a free kick in the attacking third. Vardy scored in three straight matches, and Milinković-Savić scored twice.
Three days later, Leeds United defeated AC Milan 1-0 in Ann Arbor. Vardy scored the only goal, assisted by Portuguese prodigy João Félix.
With three straight wins, Leeds United won the International Champions Cup.
It might not mean much, but it was still an encouragement.
After the AC Milan game, the team flew straight back to the UK.
By then, all World Cup players had ended their holidays.
In an interview in Paris, Mbappé announced a major decision.
(To be continued.)