Manchester United Women | Silly Season | Summer/winter 2026
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We need experience from the top level of the game, but both of the mentioned players are past their prime, so I’m not sure how I’d feel about the signings.
Didn't Bright say in her podcast with Daly that United was the team she hated the most in the WSL? I can't imagine her at United. Not sure I'd want her here either.
I'm with you on that I'm afraid.
I can see why we'd be interested in them. They're experienced, they play in roles where we don't have much cover and they've won multiple trophies.
Trouble is they'll both be 33 at the start of next season, they look past their prime and neither has a great injury record. No great surprise that Arsenal let Lia go and Chelsea will let Bright leave.
That's not to say clubs are always right on these judgements but I don't see either of these being good bets for us.
Women reach their physical prime at 38 don’t they?
I don’t know how that translates on a football field though.
Saying that, I don’t want either of these.
I don’t know how that translates on a football field though.
Saying that, I don’t want either of these.
I have absolutely no idea about "physical prime" age, but both players would add experience and help towards giving us a deeper squad.
I assume there would be no transfer fees involved so for me it would be sensible, low-risk reinforcements with neither being first choice starters.
Saying that, I don't really want them either
Holdt has signed a new deal with Spurs. Big for them, she was one we should have been considering
Been picked for England at 17. We should be all over her this summer
Is it too soon to start speculating about might/could/should/will happen in the next transfer window? It might be too early to talk about particular players who might come or go, but I've been thinking recently about the more general question of how much additional help we might expect from the Powers-That-Be.
What got me thinking about is the recent arguments we've been throwing around in various threads regarding Skinner's fate. I don't mean to dredge up that specific debate again here, but it seems to me that the main issues are the same. In particular, a crucial issue might be whether this season is deemed a success or a failure. On the one hand, the Powers-That-Be might argue that they bought us a bunch of good new players this year, and yet we failed to win any trophies and finished fourth in the league again (if indeed that happens). That is, they might regard paying for new acquisitions as a poor return on investment, since we're still the fourth-best team in the WSL. On the other hand, they could agree with what presumably will be Skinner's argument, which is that the acquisitions they provided us weren't enough to be competitive in the WCL plus other competitions, and yet we still managed to make it to the League Cup Finals and the WCL quarterfinals despite an onslaught of injuries. Therefore, we could potentially be (even) more successful next season with the addition of more quality players.
Something that I've also been wondering about is the degree to which everything might depend on whether we do in fact finish the WSL in the top three or not (depending probably on whether we can beat Chelsea on the last matchday). If we don't, the Powers-That-Be might decide that whatever we did this year, we don't need additional acquisitions because we won't be playing in the WCL next year, but (maybe) that if we do we will need more help next season.
I'm just spitballin' here. Interested to hear what others think.
What got me thinking about is the recent arguments we've been throwing around in various threads regarding Skinner's fate. I don't mean to dredge up that specific debate again here, but it seems to me that the main issues are the same. In particular, a crucial issue might be whether this season is deemed a success or a failure. On the one hand, the Powers-That-Be might argue that they bought us a bunch of good new players this year, and yet we failed to win any trophies and finished fourth in the league again (if indeed that happens). That is, they might regard paying for new acquisitions as a poor return on investment, since we're still the fourth-best team in the WSL. On the other hand, they could agree with what presumably will be Skinner's argument, which is that the acquisitions they provided us weren't enough to be competitive in the WCL plus other competitions, and yet we still managed to make it to the League Cup Finals and the WCL quarterfinals despite an onslaught of injuries. Therefore, we could potentially be (even) more successful next season with the addition of more quality players.
Something that I've also been wondering about is the degree to which everything might depend on whether we do in fact finish the WSL in the top three or not (depending probably on whether we can beat Chelsea on the last matchday). If we don't, the Powers-That-Be might decide that whatever we did this year, we don't need additional acquisitions because we won't be playing in the WCL next year, but (maybe) that if we do we will need more help next season.
I'm just spitballin' here. Interested to hear what others think.
The key is finishing in one of the European places.
Just like the men’s game, it’s increasingly difficult to attract Europe’s best players (I’m including the UK here too for clarification) without being able to offer European competition.
Just like the men’s game, it’s increasingly difficult to attract Europe’s best players (I’m including the UK here too for clarification) without being able to offer European competition.
Yes, that's a good reason why finishing top-3 really matters. But I was focusing more on the question of how finishing top-3 or not might affect the amount of help we might expect to get from management this summer.
Of all the possibilities I mentioned previously, I think the one that most concerns me is that if we don't finish top-3, they will say that we don't need any more help next season since we won't be competing in the WCL. (I'm not saying that I think that's a good argument, of course, but if they are looking for reasons to not invest further in the women's team....)
Who would you like to see brought in that has the experience but isn't nearer 35 than 30?
No idea, I don't watch nearly enough women's football outside of United to know who is available and who would be a good fit for us right now. We definitely need one CB in the summer, ideally a second that can rotate with MLT. In terms of the profile of players that we need, I don't think it necessarily has to be a highly experienced player in that position. We struggle the most against fast players, who can turn the defence like Harder did to us last week, and players who can bully our defence like Shaw. So having someone with pace in that position would be ideal. We're also lacking an aerially dominant player that can deal with corners and set pieces. I suppose someone like Bright would help in that respect, but I don't see her as the solution.
Generally across the board we seems to be lacking a bit of physicality in our squad. I'd personally be looking at bringing in a LB and two wingers, one on each side, that are all fast and can put a good cross in. Having pacy wide players was a big theme of our teams in previous years but it hasn't been there this season and I think that's one of the reasons why we've had a poor record against the top sides this season. Again, I don't know who that would be. I can't help but think it would've been great to have Kirsty Hanson in this squad. Maybe Drury and Anderson can fill that role for us and get more game time next season. Anderson in particular looked really fast in her cameo against Atletico Madrid.
Interesting link. She's got great numbers as a striker in the Liege but PSG were so poor in the WCL this year that I can't say I'm that familiar with how she plays.
Anyone seen much of her with the Netherlands?
Oddly enough, given how critical I am of some things about our senior management and the owner's attitude to the team, I actually think we've got a good recruitment team. Certainly I've been pleased by our buys over the past couple of years.
I'm suspicious when our rivals release players and we move to pick them up though. I think the best teams know when to release players and when to recruit.
I'm suspicious I guess. I'm kind of assuming that Bright is looking for a last good contract - a longer one than Chelsea would want to give her. I'm also kind of assuming that she'd only be coming to us for the money and the lack of competition for a place.
I've said before that I'd take Bright in a heartbeat. The player I would love to see at United is Godfrey from LCL. She terrorised us on the wing when we played them.
Totally agree that our recruitment team has done very well. The only recent recruit that hasn't really proven herself yet is Wangerheim, and I feel confident that she will do so before too long.
I understand your suspicion about players released by our rivals, but I think it's important to keep in mind that different teams need different things at different times -- and Bright might be a good example. Chelsea can do without her in the short-term and instead prioritize recruiting younger players who will be around for the long-term, but what we need right now are some experienced players who can raise our level in the short-term. In general I am definitely not in favor of assembling a team of mercenaries, but a couple/few might be just what we need right now.
We already have Jansen's experience at CB. Unless shes off it wouldnt make sense to have Bright
The recruitment has been fine for staying where we are. For replacing aging players in the squad with younger ones. It has not been good enough to outdo the rival clubs and make progress towards being a stronger squad than them
The recruitment has been fine for staying where we are. For replacing aging players in the squad with younger ones. It has not been good enough to outdo the rival clubs and make progress towards being a stronger squad than them
I wouldn't see Bright as a replacement for anyone, but an experienced player to add depth to the squad.
Agreed. Our recruitment hasn't delivered the next tier up of players, or of players who are heading in that direction. They're mostly status quo players and that's probably how our funding sits.
The trouble with that concept is that our squad mostly run on fumes and team spirit. I'm nervous of being anyone's semi-retirement option.
Of course I may be being completely unfair - it might be exactly the challenge that she wants. In which case, how well it would work might depend on whether she'd be content to a mentor to the less experienced and a bench option. From what we know she didn't want that job with Chelsea or England.
Interesting write-up on United's senior management and women's team funding. Including the possibility of inviting an external investor into the mix.
Interesting sketch of how the coaching staff is operating (or not) as well.
Interesting sketch of how the coaching staff is operating (or not) as well.
Meanwhile, back at one of my personal hobby horses - United and how it handles its home grown (and bought in young) youth.
Keira Barry has been called up to join the full England team squad by Wiegman.
Keira Barry has been called up to join the full England team squad by Wiegman.
Something else I found interesting in that Athletic article was Wangerheim (allegedly) saying that she was told during contract negotiations that she would play at the 9. I believe that, given that from what (little) we've seen of her so far she has looked much more comfortable and promising in that position than on the wing. But if we brought her in to be a striker, why did we bring in Schuller? I'm all for depth, but how many 9s do we need?
Frustrating if she goes on to bigger things but it's a big surprise to see her called up for Lionesses - nothing in her career so far suggests she's ready for that level
Yeah I'm also not against the signing as would bring serious top level experience to that defence. Hmmm wouldn't have thought Godfrey had a big pricetag, mind you LCL owner is not exactly poor
Never heard of her. Sign her up.
Still at the gossip stage but ouch.
Millie Bright has announced her retirement.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cvgzd945593o
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cvgzd945593o
Still at the gossip stage but ouch.
Doesn’t surprise me
The shape of things to come?
Alexia Putellas to London City Lionesses a possibility this summer.
Would be quite a statement by LCL and their owners. Obviously not the force that she was and at 32, probably not a player that Barcelona would fight to hold onto but still - a real declaration of intent about putting the club on the map if it goes ahead.
Alexia Putellas to London City Lionesses a possibility this summer.
Would be quite a statement by LCL and their owners. Obviously not the force that she was and at 32, probably not a player that Barcelona would fight to hold onto but still - a real declaration of intent about putting the club on the map if it goes ahead.
Especially as she will be joined by another 4 very good players or something. If they dont get her they'll make another big statement signing
LCL are absolutely going to be a contender for the league in the future. Investment eventually pays off.
Yeah without doubt
Womens team are gonna end up drifting
I already feel it is. This season is completely fizzling out and I’ve no confidence the club cares enough to make this transfer window good enough.
Yeah women's team is very low priority unfortunately