Manchester United boss Marc Skinner is pleased to see extra investment in the women’s game, but believes Chelsea’s spending in the January transfer window “skews the market”.
Women’s Super League leaders Chelsea signed United States defender Naomi Girma for £900,000, making her the most expensive female footballer in the world.
They agreed a deadline-day deal for Barcelona’s England midfielder Keira Walsh in a deal reportedly worth up to £800,000, though that signing has not yet been announced.
United made one permanent signing in the January window, with goalkeeper Kayla Rendell arriving from Women’s Championship side Southampton and Skinner said his club are not at the same level as Chelsea when it comes to transfers.
“I am happy the investment has come in,” said Skinner. “Does it widen the gap? It definitely skews the market a little bit.
“I don’t think Chelsea will be moaning about that because they are in a situation where they can hit those levels of investment.
“For us it’s fantastic for the women’s game, the growth and development in such a short period of time.
“But we may potentially see fallouts and how it affects everybody else.”
Chelsea are top of the WSL, seven points clear of United in second.
But Skinner said his team will continue to try to bridge the gap on the pitch when spending off it is out of their control.
“It has to make you try harder,” he added. “That is the reality. We’re not that team. We can’t go and spend those types of fees.
“But what we can do is we can try and recruit smartly, not panic that teams are investing in that kind of way, and really push into our own way of doing it.”
United made a deadline-day offer for England forward Chloe Kelly from rivals Manchester City, but the 27-year-old joined Arsenal on loan late on Thursday.
“If we found the right person and we could make a right deal, then we’d try and do it,” Skinner said.
“If not, I’m really happy with the forward options we have. Chloe Kelly is an Arsenal player on loan from Manchester City. So it really doesn’t affect us now.”
