Manchester City accept Arsenal’s 11th-hour loan offer for Chloe Kelly | OneFootball

Arsenal have had an 11th-hour bid to sign Chloe Kelly on loan until the end of the season accepted by Manchester City, but the England winger’s future remains undecided as the 11pm transfer deadline approaches on Thursday.

Manchester United have also made a bid for Kelly but it is understood City are unwilling to let her move to their nearest neighbours in the January transfer window, and therefore the offer has not been accepted. Instead, Arsenal now appear the favourites to sign her. Brighton have also been linked with the forward.

The 27-year-old wants more playing time, in the hope of earning a place in Sarina Wiegman’s England squad for July’s European Championship in Switzerland, where the Lionesses will seek to defend the title they won in 2022 when Kelly’s extra-time goal clinched victory over Germany at Wembley.

Kelly has been increasingly frozen out at City, making only one start in the Women’s Super League this season amid reports linking her with a move. On Wednesday she released a statement on social media accusing City of dictating who she can and cannot join and said the situation is having an impact on her mental wellbeing.

Kelly also said she accepted she has no future at City beyond the end of her contract which expires in June, breaking her silence after weeks of speculation about her future, seemingly in a last-resort plea to be permitted to leave.

Manchester City are understood to be open to allowing Kelly a move, but naturally they would be against strengthening their neighbours United, who are second in the WSL table.

Kelly’s statement added: “The situation has dragged on far too long, it’s disappointing and not right. Ultimately I just want to be happy again.”

The Austria defender Laura Wienroither has signed for Manchester City on loan from Arsenal for the rest of the season, but the deal is not directly tied to any move for Kelly. The full-back Wienroither has first-team players ahead of her in the pecking order at Arsenal, who are happy to help her secure more regular gametime.

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