16 June 2023 , 10:10
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Speculation over Alessia Russo ’s future has been launched into a new stratosphere after the forward’s announcement that she will not pen a new contract with Manchester United.
The Euro 2022 winner’s current contract at United is set to expire at the end of this month and Russo took to social media on Friday morning to release an open letter to fans stating that her time at Leigh Sports Village has reached its bittersweet conclusion. The 24-year-old refrained from commenting on where exactly her services will be employed next season.
The 2022/23 season was a record-breaking campaign for Russo, who scored 13 goals in all competitions including 10 in the league to clinch qualification for the Champions League and a memorable runners-up finish behind reigning champions Chelsea.
Rumours of where Russo will ply her trade next season have become the hottest commodity in women’s football, with mooted links to the NWSL, WSL and across Europe igniting individual Twitter storms nearly every day.
WSL rivals Arsenal remain in pole position to sign the former Chelsea starlet. Arsenal lodged two world-record bids, with the last close to £500,000, for the services of Russo in January, and while the offers were ultimately rebuffed, it did little to douse the club’s interest in the young forward.
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According to the BBC, Arsenal have continued to hold talks with Russo and her team and are heavy favourites to sign the England star following their earlier bids.
Arsenal finished behind United in the WSL this season, pipping Manchester City to a European place on goal difference. A shot at Europe could prove paramount to Arsenal’s bid to lure Russo to Meadow Park.
Jonas Eidevall and co. know the destruction Russo can reap first-hand, with her dramatic late winner at the Emirates earlier in the season burnt into the Arsenal psyche. In fact, Russo scored the game-winner in all three of Arsenal’s clashes with United last season.
And with rafts of injuries to key attacking players, including Russo’s England teammate Beth Mead, Arsenal are keen on bolstering their attacking ranks with proven talent.
Alessia Russo of Manchester United celebrates after scoring her team's third goal during the FA Women's Super League match against Arsenal in November (Photo by Harriet Lander/Getty Images)Nevertheless, reports from the U.S. earlier this week linked Russo with a move to the NWSL, with ESPN reporting that the Washington Spirit have shown interest in the striker.
Russo's representatives travelled to the U.S. last week and attended Washington's 2-1 victory against Angel City, a win which guaranteed Spirit's second place position in the NWSL standings.
A move to the U.S. would not be unthinkable. Russo spent two seasons across the Atlantic with the North Carolina Tar Heels between 2017 and 2019.
However, San Diego Wave head coach and former England international Casey Stoney categorically rejected the rumours, stating: “if Alessia Russo was coming to the NWSL, I would be in the conversation. She is not coming here.”
French giants Lyon have also been mooted as a landing spot for Russo since January. Last month, the club were taken over by Spirit owner Michele Kang as part of plans to create a new women-led multi-club soccer organisation and the connection could prove fruitful in luring Russo away from Arsenal.
Lyon defended their Division 1 Feminine title over PSG this season but were unable to mount the same defence in Europe, succumbing to defeat to Chelsea in the quarter-finals.
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Reports have also linked the star to Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, the former with whom Lionesses Keira Walsh and Lucy Bronze just won the Champions League and highly-rated full-back Ona Batlle is set to join following the expiration of her contract with United.
Russo will link up with Sarina Wiegman and the rest of the England squad imminently as they prepare for the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next month.