Manchester United manager Marc Skinner has responded to rumors that Chloe Kelly could be subject to a loan move from rivals Manchester City.
Reports on Kelly’s future appeared before the Manchester derby in Women’s Super League (WSL) last Sunday, with the striker also left out Gareth Taylor’s City team.
TheTelegraph wrote that Kelly is “open to a move” to United until the end of the 2024/25 season, having started just one game for City in the WSL so far.
However, at the request of 90 min about the truth of the rumours, Skinner replied: “I’m sure you can expect my answer, we’re not talking about the other team’s players.
“We’ve always said at Manchester United that if it’s the right person at the right time, who fits this unique group of team-mates, then we can try to do the job.
“The winter period is notoriously a little harder to work, but the reality is we’re always looking. The team is always hard at work recruiting.”
United were eager to knock down some of their starting mainstaysrecently plans a three-year contract extension with defender Jayde Riviere.
The club have lost several high-profile players on free transfers in recent seasons, with English players Alessia Russo and Mary Earps both prominent examples in 2023 and 2024.
“From us, if you want to build the longevity of the team, then you have to have a core group that travels together. In the past, for whatever reason, whether it’s player selection or club decisions, players have moved on,” Skinner added.
“We entered the market younger so we could grow those players together. Anna Sanberg is an example of what we’re trying to do here, Jayde [Riviere] signing a new contract, Grace [Clinton]. With these young people, we are trying to build a team that can stay together for a while. It creates cohesion.
“I look at the successful teams in this country and they have a core group. We need to have a younger core group moving together so we can add success to the club.”
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