Alessia Russo will be watched closely over the next month after she was part of the highest-profile transfer deadline day saga in the history of the women's game.
Russo, who celebrates her 24th birthday on Wednesday, was the subject of two world record bids from WSL title contenders Arsenal. as the clock ticked down towards the window closing. But Man Utd refused to budge and held onto one of their most prized assets, although Russo will be out of contract in the summer.
The fact that Arsenal were still willing to pay a huge transfer fee to sign the England forward, even though the Gunners could still get her on a free transfer in a few months' time, shows just how highly Russo is rated across the league. But as she looks to become England's main striker in a World Cup year, how did the former Chelsea, Brighton and North Carolina star get to this point?
Why Arsenal want her
In truth, there is no pressure for Russo to sign a new deal at United before the summer because the list of clubs who would be interested in her is huge. Arsenal are far from the only suitors for the Red Devils No.23, but were the most in need of a quick buy in January.
Arsenal were after goals following serious ACL injuries to Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema and Russo knows where the net is. Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall never talked about bids for specific transfer targets throughout January, but did say at the start of the window he hoped to bring in a forward to help counter the goals lost through injury.
Russo has 17 goals in 36 WSL appearances at Man Utd, while her international scoring rate is even higher with 10 in just 17 caps. The 24-year-old even finished third in the overall scoring charts at Euro 2022, with four goals, despite never starting a game, used entirely as a substitute.
Her wondergoal in the semi-final against Sweden was one of the moments of the tournament and - like a number of her teammates - Russo was thrown into the national spotlight.
Remarkably, Russo averaged a goal every 65.8 minutes as the Lionesses won a first major trophy and with Ellen White retiring after the tournament, she now has a chance to become England's first-choice striker ahead of the FIFA Women's World Cup finals later this year.
What Man Utd are saying
Russo's contract status may still be up in the air, but Man Utd manager Marc Skinner is relaxed about the situation. With Sarina Wiegman looking on, Russo failed to score in a 0-0 draw with Everton last weekend, a result that saw United lose top spot in the WSL.
After such a dispiriting result it would be easy to assume or speculate that Russo was distracted by transfer talk. But Skinner is confident she is fully focused on helping them in what is shaping up to be a thrilling title race.
“Alessia’s in a good mood and good spirit," said Skinner after the Everton stalemate. "We had a chat the other day just to get her focused on what we need to do but it was an easy chat so she's ready, she knows exactly what we want to achieve here and she's a huge part of that.”
Faith from her international boss
Russo has won plenty of admiring glances from across the league and as stated, it may not only be Arsenal looking to secure her signature in the summer. Chelsea have also been previously linked with a move, while a move back to America may not be out of the question with the NWSL always a major pull for the world's best talent.
England manager Sarina Wiegman has also been full of praise for Russo in the past and this week, when naming her in the Lionesses' squad for the Arnold Clark Cup said she won't be phased by transfer speculation.
“I went to the game last Sunday (United's 0-0 draw with Everton)," said Wiegman. "And I don't think she was distracted by the (transfer) situation. I think she was just doing her job and very motivated to play a good game.”
"It (transfer deadline day) is another thing developing in the women’s game, it was a big topic, and she was the subject of it."
What the saga shows about the WSL transfer landscape
It was always going to be a window of speculation for Russo. A player of her ability being out-of-contract doesn't go unnoticed anymore in the women's game. But the record bids lodged by Arsenal, with the second thought to be around £600,000, and the media interest in the potential deal, highlights how players' values are growing at a rapid rate.
It wasn't too long ago that transfer fees in general were virtually unheard of in the English women's game. Now we have a situation where Arsenal know that Russo could have all but guaranteed them Champions League football and maybe even helped them win the title. Add in the fact they would be weakening a direct rival and the numbers evolved suddenly spiral.
Russo's international teammate Keira Walsh set the women's transfer record last summer when she moved to Barcelona from Man City for £400,000. But this probably won't stand for more than a year or two, even if Russo isn't the one to break it.
Clubs are now willing to part with big cash because they know the players are worthy investments. Russo may not have made the move on deadline day, but this transfer episode could be looked back on as a watershed moment for the women's game in years to come.
