Chelsea are trying to sign Arsenal star Katie McCabe before the end of the January transfer window, Telegraph Sport understand.
Arsenal have rejected what multiple sources have described as a “substantial” offer for the 27-year-old Ireland international, but Women’s Super League champions Chelsea are still hoping to negotiate a deal before the January 31 deadline. We understand that Arsenal have no desire to sell McCabe.
McCabe, who has been with Arsenal for eight years, can play as a wide or fullback and has proven deadly from long range. She was named Arsenal’s Player of the Year last season and losing her would be a huge blow. It would also come as a surprise to Arsenal fans, especially given the relative rarity of these two WSL title rivals signing a key player directly from each other.
A title winner with the North Londoners in 2019, McCabe is said to be open to discussing the possibility of a move to Chelsea which, if it can be agreed, would represent a major highlight of this fiercely competitive WSL season.
She was also named Republic of Ireland Player of the Year in 2022, a year in which she qualified for her first major senior women’s international tournament. They will be in Group B of this summer’s Women’s World Cup, alongside Canada, Nigeria and co-hosts Australia. Before that, Arsenal and Chelsea are both involved in the Champions League Round of 16, which kicks off in March, as well as the WSL title race.
Chelsea are also set to sign Belgian goalkeeper Nicky Evrard this summer, with a pre-contract deal now expected to be completed on a three-year contract from July.
The 27-year-old impressed at last year’s Euros, helping Belgium reach the quarter-finals, and had also been widely linked with a move to German club Wolfsburg, but it is understood that she has now chosen Emma Hayes’ team.
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