Manchester City are desperate to agree a new contract with Chloe Kelly with only a year left to run on her deal, 90min understands, as competition for the winger is set to intensify after the opening of the summer transfer window.
The WSL window officially opened on 24 June and will remain open until 21 September. Kelly’s contract with the Cityzens is due to expire next summer and sources have told 90min the club are now on alert as they anticipate the 26-year-old to attract interest from several elite-level clubs.
Manchester United have emerged as a wildcard in the race to steal Kelly from their rivals. The club want to make a statement signing to show key players already in their squad their ambition to improve upon their last WSL performance and close the gap at the top of the table.
However, it seems this move is a little too late to convince goalkeeper Mary Earps to stay – a deal to join PSG has already been agreed and is likely to be announced in just a matter of days.
Kelly was first considered under United’s former head of women’s football, Polly Bancroft. Though Sir Jim Ratcliffe intimated earlier this week in an interview with Bloomberg that he does not yet have an advanced plan for United’s women’s team in the way he does with the men’s, he has inherited a sporting strategy which could include plans to make a play for Kelly. Working against United, however, is their lack of Women’s Champions League football.
Sources have also told 90min that PSG are also prepared to give Kelly a pay rise if she were to make the move to France, which would pair her with England colleague Earps.
San Diego Wave also held an interest prior to manager Casey Stoney’s surprise sacking. However, it is believed that Kelly is inclined to stay in the WSL and no offer from the NWSL has yet been made.
Though City are determined to secure her future, Kelly could yet explore whether the grass is greener on the other side, no doubt still having a sour taste in her mouth after losing out to Chelsea on goal difference in last season’s WSL title race.
It’s no surprise that Kelly is so sought after, following her participation in helping the Lionesses win the 2022 European Championship – the first major title in their history. The winger played an instrumental role for England, scoring the winning goal in the final against Germany. Last season for City, she scored eight goals across 30 games in all competitions.
Source: 90min
