Ella Toone will 'always be proud' of Alessia Russo even if striker leaves Man Utd
Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone has said she will ‘always be proud’ of Alessia Russo, regardless of whether or not they remain teammates at club level next season.
Russo is United’s highest profile star among several important players coming towards the end of their respective contracts at the club, with her future increasingly uncertain the closer she gets to her current deal in Manchester expiring – which it will at the end of June.
United are keen to tie the 24-year-old, who rejected the offer of new terms shortly before Euro 2022 last summer, to a new long-term deal but negotiations have dragged on without an agreement.
Arsenal were knocked back after submitting two world record bids for Russo at the very end of the January transfer window, the latter reaching £500,000. That response indicated how highly United value her, given the distinct risk of losing the England striker on a free transfer come summer.
Lyon have been linked with Russo in the past, while it be amiss of Chelsea, the club where she actually started her senior career, not to be keeping close tabs on the situation ahead of a summer in which they are expected to lose Pernille Harder.
“We’re joined at the hip…we’re best friends. We love playing together and being around each other, and we love each other’s company,” Toone said of Russo.
“That will never change, no matter where Alessia is. As a friend I will always be proud of what she does and goes on to achieve,” she added, perceived by fans as a concerning hint.
“Right now, we’re at England camp and spending every day together. We’re playing football together and that’s the main thing. For now, it’s just enjoying now together and whatever happens, happens.”
United boss Marc Skinner has had nothing but praise for Russo’s attitude that has seen her to continue to perform against the potentially unsettling background noise that is her uncertain future.
“There is a lot of love in our team for Alessia and she reciprocates that, she knows how important she is to us. What we’ve had to do is sweep away some of the noise around and just get her focusing – all credit to her, she has done that,” the manager explained after Russo’s hat-trick against Leicester.
“Alessia is a super-talented person. Us internally – you will judge her from the outside on goals and assists – but nothing has really ever changed, she has just continued to work hard. That’s how we’ll keep working with her and hopefully we can keep her at the club.”
Which Man Utd players are out of contract in 2023?
Star full-back Ona Batlle is in a similar boat to Russo in that she only has a matter of months left on her contract and would be an absolute steal as a free transfer for any number of elite clubs.
Her 12-month extension option, at one point a standard in all United Women contracts, has already been triggered to keep the Spaniard at the club this season.
Aoife Mannion, now back from a long-term ACL injury, is another out of contract this summer without an extension option. Jade Moore and Emily Ramsey could also depart for free once their loans at Reading and Everton respectively end unless new deals are agreed.
The eight other players due to be out of contract in 2023 all have options until 2024 that could yet be triggered. That includes Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper winner Mary Earps and influential box-to-box midfielder Hayley Ladd, both of whom the club want to tie to longer term deals.
Vilde Boe Risa, Martha Thomas, Maria Thorisdottir, Hannah Blundell, back-up goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley and loaned-out youngster Carrie Jones are also under contract until 2023 with options.