Gao Bo never expected the team to keep its current core lineup for long. After all, Luton is just a League Two team, and players can easily be lured by top-tier clubs.
He once thought players like Vardy and Kante would be the first to get offers from Premier League clubs, but to his surprise, it was Charlie Austin who approached him about a transfer first.
"Have you made up your mind, Charlie?" Gao Bo wasn't surprised. It was natural for players to be tempted by the opportunity to play in the Premier League.
Blackburn had reached out to Luton for Charlie Austin, and now Charlie had come to Gao Bo for a final discussion.
Charlie was no longer the bricklayer he had been six months ago. He had become Luton's second-choice striker and a key part of the team. But what surprised Gao Bo was that Blackburn had chosen to pursue Austin instead of Vardy.
Charlie looked a little guilty. "I'm sorry, boss... but I really want to play in the Premier League!"
Ah, the allure of the Premier League...
Gao Bo wasn't angry. He understood the desire of players to compete on a bigger stage.
"We won't accept their initial offer of two million. Charlie, you're worth much more than that..." Gao Bo replied.
Hearing this, Charlie's face brightened. Gao Bo's response made it clear that he wasn't against the idea of him leaving.
"And besides, Blackburn isn't exactly a big platform!" Gao Bo stood up and patted Charlie on the shoulder.
"You deserve to be called up by an even bigger club!" Gao Bo said earnestly. "Do your best for the rest of the season and aim for an even better contract."
With those words, Gao Bo made it clear that he wouldn't stand in the way of Charlie's transfer.
"Boss... I..." Charlie was choked with emotion.
When he came to discuss the transfer, Charlie had prepared for multiple scenarios: Gao Bo might refuse outright, get angry, or set an unreasonably high price tag. What he hadn't expected was how "reasonable" Gao Bo would be.
Gao Bo wasn't being kind for no reason. In truth, he had already planned to sell one or two of his key players this season to raise funds for transfers. If he wanted to compete in the Europa League next season, it would be impossible with the current lineup. Reinforcements were necessary.
And to strengthen the squad, selling high and buying low was the only way, especially since the team owner, David Morton, couldn't provide additional transfer funds.
So Charlie Austin had luck on his side! A slight smile appeared on Gao Bo's face.
But before making any further moves, Gao Bo had to ensure that his top striker, Vardy, remained committed. After all, Vardy was integral to next season's plans.
---
"Winning the Europa League?!" Vardy was visibly excited.
"Yes, Jamie! In addition to winning League One next season, our goal is to claim the Europa League title!" Gao Bo declared.
"That's why we need to raise funds. Now that Charlie is set to transfer, our focus is to help him score as much as possible. The more goals he gets, the higher his price. Understand?"
"Understood, boss!" Vardy replied enthusiastically.
Vardy admired Gao Bo, and now he felt a sense of loyalty akin to serving a great leader.
"Jamie, you'll still be our main striker next season. But for the rest of this season, focus on helping Charlie score goals," Gao Bo said. "It's all for our bigger goals next season!"
"Yes, boss!!" Vardy responded, his heart full of determination.
He had no doubts about Gao Bo's ambitious vision, winning the Europa League or even the FA Cup this season. For Vardy, Gao Bo's words were like gospel.
---
On February 18th, in the 31th round of the league, Luton faced Rotherham at home.
In the locker room, Gao Bo emphasized that Charlie Austin would be the main attacker for this match.
The players exchanged glances, surprised, as Vardy was usually the team's primary scorer. However, Vardy didn't seem the least bit displeased. He understood the strategy: helping Charlie shine would secure a higher transfer fee, which would, in turn, strengthen the team for next season's goals.
Before the match, Gao Bo equipped Charlie Austin with all of his offensive-boosting cards: dribbling, speed, and shooting.
Charlie Austin felt unstoppable.
In the very first minute of the game, he scored with his first touch. After receiving a cross from Kevin Keane on the right, Charlie controlled the ball with his chest, charged into the box, and fired a shot into the net, putting Luton in the lead.
This was just the beginning of Charlie Austin's show.
He scored again in the 20th minute and added two more goals in the second half, completing his best-ever performance for Luton.
Unsurprisingly, Charlie was named Man of the Match. His teammates were amazed, no one had expected that Charlie, who had always been in Vardy's shadow, had such incredible ability.
What they didn't know was that the boost came from Gao Bo's tactical cards, which elevated Charlie's skills to another level. Against League Two opponents, he was practically unstoppable.
---
On February 21st, in the 32th round of the league, Luton played away at Accrington.
The team continued to feed Charlie the ball, and he delivered again. Despite Accrington's defensive setup, they couldn't contain Luton.
In the 18th minute, Vardy broke through on goal. In the past, he would have taken the shot himself, but this time, he unselfishly passed the ball to Charlie, who tapped it in for another goal.
Charlie went on to score twice more, securing a hat-trick and another victory for Luton.
Gao Bo couldn't help but feel proud. The cards had turned Charlie Austin into a cheat code for League Two. No defense could stop him.
After the game, Gao Bo glanced at the stands, where scouts from various clubs were watching closely.
He could already imagine the offers from big clubs rolling in...