Arsenal are interested in signing England international Keira Walsh from Barcelona.
Walsh, who joined the Catalan side from Manchester City in 2022 for a then-world record transfer fee in a deal worth more than £400,000 ($457,000), has one year left on her contract.
Barcelona see Walsh as an important part of their team and would demand a large transfer fee from Arsenal should they pursue the midfielder. Indeed, the north London club may be interested but whether a fee or contract can be agreed is another matter.
The 27-year-old won the quadruple with Barcelona this season and the treble the year before securing successive Champions League titles.
Although when Walsh first joined Barcelona she understandably took some time to get used to a new country, style of play and team-mates, she has become a key player and started every Champions League fixture last campaign.
Naturally, if an opportunity arose for a player to be closer to their family, they may consider it.
Walsh won the quadruple with Barcelona this season (Pedro Salado/Getty Images)
At Barcelona, as she is at international level, Walsh is utilised in a deep-lying midfield role, offering composure in possession and helping circulate the ball in the build-up play.
Arsenal have Lia Walti in the No 6 position while Kim Little, 33, and Kyra Cooney-Cross, 22, can also play there. Victoria Pelova played in that role last season but ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament injury on international duty at the beginning of the month. Interest in Walsh preceded Pelova’s injury, however. Arsenal could also use Kathrine Kuhl, who was sent on loan to Everton last year, but she tends to play a more advanced position.
A move for Walsh would represent another high-profile English signing for Arsenal after they completed a highly-publicised deal for striker Alessia Russo last summer.
Walsh progressed through the Blackburn Rovers academy before joining Man City in 2014 and breaking into the first team as a 17-year-old.She has become an integral part of the England squad since her senior debut in 2017 and was named player of the match during the Lionesses’ Euro 2022 final victory over Germany.
Barcelona have already confirmed the departures of Mariona Caldentey and Sandra Panos following the conclusion of their contracts at the end of the 2023-24 campaign, while Nigeria forward Asisat Oshoala moved to Bay FC in February.
Alexia Putellas, Patri Guijarro, Mapi Leon and Marta Torrejon were all set to be out of contract this summer but signed fresh terms last season.
Barcelona, already crowned league winners for the fifth year in a row, have one league game left against Valencia on Sunday,
Arsenal, meanwhile, finished third in the Women’s Super League last season, five points behind champions Chelsea, and won the Continental Cup.
The WSL’s all-time leading goalscorer Vivianne Miedema left the club at the end of the season following the conclusion of her contract.
GO DEEPER
My Euro 2022 final in my words. By England’s midfield star Keira Walsh
(Naomi Baker/Getty Images)