A name everyone will be keeping an eye on for the rest of January tRANSFER The window is Chloe Kelly, with the Manchester City striker facing an uncertain future at the Joie Stadium.
The 26-year-old is in the last six months of her contract and has yet to sign new terms with the club. WSL team, which she joined from Everton in 2020. Limited playing time under Gareth Taylor this season has intensified speculation of a January move as Kelly faces a battle to hold her place in Sarina Wiegman England team ahead of Euro 2025 in Switzerland in July.
Increasing injuries in areas forward to town could be a significant stumbling block if Kelly seeks a loan or permanent exit this month. Khadija Shaw, Lauren Hemp and Vivianne Miedema are among those who have suffered injury problems in recent months, although the latter returned from the bench at the weekend for City. FA Cup win over Ipswich Town.
In the win over Ipswich, Kelly made her first start since the 3-2 triumph over St. Polten in Champions League in October and was the first full 90 minutes since September. In total, the winger has made just four starts in all competitions so far this season, and just one of those has come in the WSL.
If Kelly is going to push for a move this month, 90 min has assessed and ranked the possible destinations for the England international with one eye on the Euros on the horizon…
If a short-term WSL loan is on the cards, that would almost certainly rule out any of the teams competing at the top end of the table. Even if Kelly does not extend her stay at City, the last thing they will want to do is to strengthen a direct rival at such a crucial point in the campaign.
Tottenham have some competition for places on the right side of their attack, with Jess Naz also fighting for a place in the England squad. But Robert Vilahman could do with some extra firepower and the success of Grace Clinton's loan move from Manchester United last season potentially makes the north London club an ideal destination for any player.
Kelly's history as a former Arsenal player probably wouldn't come into it.
Further down the table, Kelly could return to her former club Everton and the proximity between Liverpool and Manchester means she likely won't need to uproot herself for a short-term change.
Brian Sorensen's side are in desperate need of reinforcements for the second half of the season after being hit by numerous injuries, but they have been the busiest of all the clubs in the opening weeks of this window.
With four players already on the door at Walton Hall Park, including striker Kelly Gago from Nantes, it remains to be seen whether they will press ahead with their rumored interest in Kelly.
Also on a short-term basis, Barcelona could enter the market this month. The Champions League holders recently confirmed an injury to wide forward Caroline Graham Hansen, who is experiencing muscle problems, and have not confirmed a return date for the Norway international.
Depending on the extent of Graham Hansen's injury, a loan move for Kelly could ensure the F-League giants are able to remain competitive on all fronts for the remainder of the season.
Former City teammate Keira Walsh has called Barcelona home since 2022, while Lucy Bronze and Toni Duggan have also represented the club.
Elsewhere in Europe, German side Wolfsburg remain one of the giants of the women's game. Like Kelly, one of their star players, Jule Brand, is out of contract in the summer and faces an uncertain future.
The 22-year-old will be a difficult figure to replace and a possible departure could open up a place in Tommy Stroot's squad. If a January move is on the table for Kelly, Wolfsburg could potentially knock their squad ahead of the summer.
Paris Saint-Germain's reported interest in Kelly has faded in recent months after initial rumors from last year suggested they were interested in the winger. However, they pursued Mary Earps on a free transfer from Manchester United last summer, and so could look to repeat a similar trick when Kelly's deal expires at the end of the season.
PSG striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto is in the final months of her deal, so decisions will have to be made in Paris sooner rather than later.