On the eve of the transfer deadline, it was reported that Arsenal offered Manchester United a world record transfer fee for Alessia Russo.
In an attempt to wrest the star from their rivals, leaving them little time to find a replacement, Arsenal offered just under half a million pounds.
The 23-year-old forward turned down an offer to sign a contract extension at her current club in June.
Russo’s contract with United ends this summer and the deadline for domestic transfers in the WSL is Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.
Although the club is said to still be negotiating with the player, no deal has been reached yet.
Russo has scored 17 goals in 35 WSL appearances for United after joining in 2020 and netted 10 times in 17 appearances for England, including four in the Lionesses’ Euro 2022 triumph last summer.
United have said they don’t want to lose the striker, but if they don’t accept an offer now, they may end up losing her on a free transfer in the summer.
Russo has also caught the eye of European giants Lyon and fellow WSL title contenders Chelsea.
The Reds aimed for a top three finish at the start of the season, but halfway through, they look like title contenders as they sit atop the league.
Losing Russo would be a huge blow to their ambitions this season and selling him to other rivals would hurt the club badly.
It is rumored that they have rejected this world record fee tonight, but with the transfer window still open for international transfers until midnight tomorrow, this may not be the last we hear of the matter.
Lyon would represent some sort of compromise by not strengthening United’s direct rivals, but losing Russo to anyone would be a disaster.
