Soccer: I’m Building a Giant in the Premier League

Chapter 36 – Wenger: Am I Being Used?

While Xia Qing's proposed wage structure for Bayswater Chinese FC was still a bit rough around the edges, Yang Cheng could tell she had put a lot of research and detailed modeling into it behind the scenes.

For example, she set the maximum salary at £2,000 per week.

In Yang Cheng's vision, only three or four players on the squad would qualify for that bracket.

Players like Ribéry, Modrić, and Huddlestone.

Ribéry and Modrić had reached that level through performance-based raises. Huddlestone, being a domestic player and a U21 national, had already been on a top-tier wage from last season.

Next came the £1,500 bracket, which would cover seven or eight players.

Then £1,000, and finally, the lower tier—£500 and below.

Xia Qing explained that her model was based on an analysis of Premier League, last season's First Division (now the Championship), and League Two wages across nearly 100 professional clubs.

While she didn't have access to comprehensive data, the estimates were pretty accurate.

For example, at Manchester United, academy players around age 20 usually earned £1,000 to £1,500 per week.

And that was Manchester United.

Of course, a new signing from outside would often earn more.

So by comparison, £2,000 per week as a wage ceiling at Bayswater was perfectly reasonable.

Looking at the club's own revenue…

Under Xia Qing's plan, the first-team wage bill for the season would total around £1.2 million. Add bonuses and appearance fees, and you're looking at £1.5 million.

But that was just the senior squad.

Add in coaches, staff, and youth academy wages, and the total annual payroll would hit £2.5 million.

What about revenue?

Using last season as a baseline:

Each match saw about 5,000 fans, at £30 per ticket, bringing in £150,000 per match.

With 23 home games, plus food and drink sales, total matchday income was around £3.5 million.

As for broadcast revenue? Forget about it.

Back in 2002, ITV Digital went bankrupt, crippling all English leagues outside the Premier League—especially the First Division.

ITV had tried to outbid Sky for the rights to England matches and the lower leagues, offering £315 million over 3 years.

But when ITV collapsed, clubs across the country fell into financial crisis.

Chris Hunter had told Yang Cheng that most bankrupt or near-bankrupt clubs today still traced their downfall back to that deal.

In July 2002, Sky reluctantly picked up the mess, offering a 4-year deal worth just £95 million.

As a result, Championship teams now receive less than £1 million per season in TV money.

Compared to the Premier League?

Not even in the same galaxy.

Matchday revenue: max £3.5 million

Broadcast rights: maybe £1 million

Sponsorships? So far, just Umbro's £500,000 shirt deal.

Total visible revenue?

Around £5 million.

Knowing this, Yang Cheng told Xia Qing to cap total wages at 50% of revenue.

Which is how she arrived at £2.5 million for the annual wage bill.

If they were in the Premier League?

TV revenue alone would bring in over £10 million a season.

That's why every club fought tooth and nail for promotion.

As it stood, Bayswater Chinese FC had no immediate solutions for increasing broadcast income or commercial sponsorships.

Which was why Yang Cheng focused heavily on matchday revenue.

If renting Loftus Road allowed them to draw 10,000 fans per game—half capacity—that would bring in £3–4 million more per season.

So after QPR's promotion to the Championship, they slightly raised ticket prices.

But Bayswater Chinese FC held firm.

…

North London – Whetstone.

Yang Cheng sat in the back of a taxi, scanning shopfronts on the right side of the road.

Finally, he spotted it: Cocorico, an Italian restaurant.

The place was full of classic Italian charm—not quite Yang Cheng's style.

As he stepped inside, he scanned the room until he saw him:

Arsène Wenger, seated in the corner, wearing a white baseball cap and Arsenal training gear.

"Hello, Professor. It's an honor to meet you."

"Hello, Yang. I'm glad you could make it."

After a polite exchange, they sat down at the table.

Wenger was a regular at Cocorico.

Yang Cheng had even heard an old rumor in his past life:

Around 2010, the press caught wind of Wenger's alleged affair with a French waitress at this very restaurant.

She had apparently taken the job just to get close to him.

Lesson learned: the world is dangerous—especially for managers.

You've always got to stay alert.

Especially if you're young, good-looking, and successful—like Yang Cheng.

Wenger lived nearby, in Totteridge, not far from the restaurant.

But their relationship clearly wasn't close enough to warrant a house visit yet.

This meeting had a specific purpose:

Chelsea had submitted a £10 million bid for Ribéry.

"We've already rejected Chelsea," Yang Cheng said flatly.

"And we've rejected Arsenal too."

Wenger didn't flinch. He just smiled, gentle and composed.

"May I ask why?"

"Come on, Professor, surely you understand," Yang replied with a chuckle.

Selling Ribéry and pocketing £10 million sounded great on paper.

But in reality?

Losing Ribéry would instantly collapse the tactical system Yang Cheng had spent all of last season perfecting.

As Yang had said before:

Every team builds around a central star—a strong core surrounded by less-polished players.

The only difference is:

At elite clubs, both the star and the "less-polished" are at a much higher level.

Take Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Before and after Ronaldo, their goal tally plummeted.

That's the value of Cristiano Ronaldo.

It was the same with Barça and Messi.

Players and clubs have always had a symbiotic relationship—they elevate each other.

Under Yang Cheng's tactical system, Martin Rowlands had shined next to Ribéry and Modrić, generating a £3 million price tag.

Even Martin Devaney had attracted interest from clubs like Watford.

But a year ago?

Nobody would've batted an eye at them.

Now, most people believed that without Ribéry, Bayswater Chinese FC would see a sharp decline in attacking power.

And a Premier League promotion?

Forget it.

Yang Cheng certainly didn't believe that—but he also couldn't afford to lose Ribéry.

If they failed to get promoted, the debt and bank loans would start to close in.

Chelsea was still circling, eager to snatch up their stadium land.

Yes, £10 million for Ribéry sounded nice on paper.

But compared to promotion to the Premier League?

Yang Cheng knew which was more important.

And so did Wenger.

In fact, QPR's willingness to pay £3 million for Rowlands wasn't just about strengthening their own squad.

It was also about weakening Bayswater Chinese FC.

It was clear to everyone that this newly promoted side had come into the Championship with dangerous intent.

"So, you're not planning to sell?" Wenger asked one more time.

Yang Cheng smiled and nodded.

"What about the player? What does he want?"

"I can handle him," Yang Cheng said with confidence.

At least for now.

What happens down the road… who knows?

"Understood." Wenger gave a slight nod.

"In that case, I won't push. But I do ask one favor."

"Go ahead," Yang Cheng said.

"If you ever do decide to sell Ribéry, I want to be the first to know."

"Of course," Yang Cheng agreed without hesitation.

Notification wasn't the same as first refusal.

"Since we're making requests…" Yang Cheng's tone shifted.

Wenger raised an eyebrow, then chuckled.

"You really don't let anything go, do you?"

Yang Cheng offered a calm smile.

Easy for Wenger to act noble—he ran a global powerhouse.

Yang Cheng, meanwhile, was so broke he'd split coins in half just to make them last.

"All right then. What is it?"

"I saw you signed Van Persie from Feyenoord," Yang Cheng said casually.

"Plus Reyes, Ljungberg, and Pires. I figure you're not short on right-sided players…"

Wenger's brow furrowed slightly.

He sensed where this was going but stayed quiet.

"Jermaine Pennant," Yang Cheng said directly.

"Wait… are you trying to buy him or loan him?"

"Loan. You think we can afford to buy him?"

Wenger gave Yang Cheng a long look, as if weighing something.

Pennant had once been the highest-paid teenager in England.

Wenger had spent £2 million to poach him from Notts County at just 15 years old.

But at Arsenal, stacked with talent, Pennant hadn't had many chances.

He'd been loaned to Watford, then to Leeds last season, where he'd played well.

That was in the Premier League.

"You know what kind of person Pennant is," Wenger warned, studying Yang Cheng carefully.

Yang Cheng nodded.

"I understand. But you've seen our right flank—it's thin."

With no budget for signings, a loan from a top club was a good option.

"I won't block it. But you'll need to convince him and his agent yourself," Wenger said.

Wenger had pretty much given up on Pennant.

If only the kid had even half the football IQ off the pitch that he did on it, Wenger would've built around him.

But the boy was a walking headache.

At Arsenal, opinions were split. Some still held out hope that he'd mature.

Others thought it was a lost cause.

In any case, a loan was a good compromise.

"I'll get in touch with him and his agent," Yang Cheng said with a smile.

And for some reason…

As Wenger looked at Yang Cheng's grin, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being used.

But why?

He couldn't figure it out.

…

After leaving the Italian restaurant, Yang Cheng immediately called Lin Zhongqiu, followed by Brian Kidd.

Lin called Pennant's agent Andrew, inquiring about the possibility of a loan to Bayswater Chinese FC.

He emphasized that Arsenal and Wenger were already on board.

The response?

A flat rejection.

Not long after, the media caught wind of it.

A few reporters staked out a nightclub in London and spotted Pennant leaving.

The young English talent didn't even try to hide his contempt.

"Maybe in ten years," he sneered.

"That is, if they're still in the Championship by then."

Despite some uncertainty about his own future, Pennant had no qualms about dishing shade.

Reporters told him that Everton were considering a bid, with only one year left on his contract.

But £1.5 million probably wasn't enough to tempt Arsenal.

"I haven't heard anything yet," Pennant replied.

"Last season at Leeds was great. Great teammates. Great memories. I really miss Elland Road."

"Coach Blackwell's been calling me. They want me back badly."

"But hey—who knows, right?"

While Pennant's transfer saga lingered in limbo, Bayswater Chinese FC's recruitment never stopped.

Portuguese center-back José Fonte joined on a free transfer.

Then they signed 31-year-old Welsh international keeper Danny Coyne from relegated Premier League side Leicester City, also on a free.

They paid £200,000 to sign Danny Collins, a 23-year-old left-footed defender from League Two side Chester City.

Collins could play both center-back and left-back.

Meanwhile, Pennant's saga had triggered the butterfly effect Yang Cheng had been hoping for.

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