Man Utd looking for 'sprinkling of world class talent' in WSL transfer window
Manchester United manager Marc Skinner is hoping to add a "sprinkling of world class talent" to his squad in the summer transfer window that will help the squad compete in the Champions League and also aid the development of the club’s existing players.
United are on course to qualify for European football for the first time, having taken a huge step towards a maiden top three WSL finish with last month’s home win over Arsenal.
Skinner’s side now have a nine-point lead over the Gunners, who have two games in hand but must also still face Chelsea away, as the season draws to a close.
With United having made the WSL big three into a big four over the past couple of years, the level of competition to get into the Champions League is only to going to get tougher each season.
Now is therefore not a time for the club to rest on its laurels after a breakthrough campaign that still has the potential to end with a remarkable WSL and FA Cup double.
“We can’t do it without [investment],” Skinner said of future growth as United prepare to face Tottenham on Sunday, insisting that the club hierarchy is supportive of that.
“This is a club that wants to continue to do that. I’m seeing growth within our team and club. [Investment] has to [happen] and I think [the club] know that, absolutely fully aware and on board with that. That’s the way it’s going,” he added.
Skinner fully knows that as United get to a higher level, the pool of players who can be recruited to genuinely improve the squad gets smaller.
“We’re going to have to recruit. I think we’ve been looking at that standard of player for the last few years. Should we make European football, win the league or win the cup, whatever that success looks like, we have to be recruiting and we have to be in for the best players in the world. That’s only what I would expect for our team and fans. My expectation is I want to work with the best players.
But there will be a multi-faceted approach to the long-term development of the squad. United have already had enormous success polishing the likes of Ella Toone and Alessia Russo from a young age, while Ona Batlle has also become one of the best in the world in her position since joining at 21.
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The club recently added 18-year-old Evie Rabjohn to the squad, as well as closing in on 17-year-old Scotland prodigy Emma Watson and having eyes on 20-year-old rising England star Katie Robinson. The signing of Grace Clinton from Everton last summer was a similar approach.
Skinner feels some in the current squad can also make the ‘jump’ to world class too. A few more established players might also only need a nudge to get there, as has already been with Mary Earps becoming the best goalkeeper in the world.
“We have players [now] who can jump into world class and so all they need is exposure, influence and time. The right sprinkling of world class talent will then help the rest to grow into that too,” Skinner continued.
“We have a wonderful ability of developing world class talent, as well as buying it. We need to sprinkle it with the right players at the right time. I think we have world class talent right now and world class talent that is in the making here. We have to keep looking at recruiting the right players to keep driving the standards because it’s only going to get more difficult.”
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