London City Lionesses are pushing to sign soon-to-be free agent Alexia Putellas as they look to build upon a promising debut WSL season.
The Bromley-based side have had a solid opening campaign in the top-flight, and despite a tough ending to their campaign ahead of the final matches of the season, are well clear of bottom-placed Leicester City.
Lionesses Continue Summer Plans With Double Move
However, owner Michele Kang has not rested on her laurels, with planning for the summer transfer window already in full swing.
According to Spanish-based outlet Mundo Deportivo, London City are ready to go all in to sign two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas as her contract with Barcelona is set to expire in the summer.
The 2023 World Cup winner with Spain is yet to strike a deal with the Catalonian club for a new contract, giving some hope to Kang that she can offer a suitable financial package to tempt the 32-year-old to the WSL.
Eder Maestre has many of his compatriots at Hayes Lane since their ascension to the top flight, with Jana Fernandez, Elene Lete, Paula Partido and Lucía Corrales to Hayes Lane last summer.
However, it is believed that Putellas wants to continue her connection with Barcelona as their club captain, and is waiting for an offer to keep her in Spain beyond this season.
The Lionesses are more confident in securing a deal with one of her El Femení teammates in centre-back Mapi León, who is currently at a crossroads at her current club with her contract expiring in the summer.
In a seperate report from Mundo Deportivo, the Blaugrana have offered the centre-back a new deal already, but the three-time Champions League winner has yet to respond to their offer, putting them at a disadvantage due to the more favourable terms offered by the English side.
Barcelona are facing exits for some of their other star players, with León’s fellow defender in Ona Battle expected to head to Arsenal on a free transfer.
Lionesses Aim For The Stars
While a very ambitious move which looks likely to fail, trying to tempt Alexia Putellas to join London City Lionesses shows that owner Michele Kang is willing to try and bring the best talent in the world to the Women’s Super League and challenge the current top order of England.
A two-time Ballon d’Or winner, the 32-year-old may certainly want to try and cut her trade somewhere else after dominating Spanish football with Barcelona, but it seems that she is not likely to commit to a move and will instead stay at the Nou Camp.
However, the Lionesses are seemingly not coming out of their Catalonian raid empty handed with Mapi León on course to move to England, in yet another big signing for Eder Maestre’s squad.
With them finding their footing in the WSL after a debut campaign, next season should see a marked improvement for London City considering the vast amounts of talent at their disposal.
Whether they can match Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea and challenge for the title may be a slight stretch, but with new additions, the Lionesses should be able to put themselves in with a decent shot at European football across their 26 league games.