As the turn of the year approaches, Women’s Super League clubs are fine-tuning their strategies for the January transfer window. The mid-season market provides a crucial opportunity to reinforce squads, replace injured players, and lay the groundwork for the season’s final push. We take an in-depth look at the state of each WSL team and analyze where they could look to strengthen.
Arsenal: Midfield Depth & Contract Extensions Key
League leaders Arsenal boast a formidable squad, but some tweaks could propel them to greater heights. With Jordan Nobbs playing fewer minutes lately, the Gunners might look to bring in a new playmaker to strengthen their midfield rotation. Extending the contracts of key players like Leah Williamson and Vivianne Miedema will also be high on the agenda.
Chelsea: A Defensive Midfielder to Support Cuthbert
Reigning champions Chelsea have been near-perfect under new boss Sonia Bompastor. However, an injury to midfield lynchpin Erin Cuthbert has exposed a lack of depth in the holding role. The Blues could target a seasoned defensive midfielder as cover and competition for the Scottish star. Young talents like Alessia Russo and Emily Wardlaw could benefit from loan spells to accelerate their development.
Manchester Clubs Seek Firepower
Despite contrasting fortunes, both Manchester City and United could use additional attacking options. City’s season has been ravaged by injuries to forwards Chloe Kelly and Lauren Hemp. United, while defensively robust, have struggled for goals at times. An injection of pace and finishing prowess would elevate either side. The Red Devils must also resolve the future of Danielle van de Donk, who will have one year left on her contract come summer.
January won’t see huge investment. But for certain teams, a couple very targeted additions could make all the difference.
– An unnamed WSL executive
Relegation Battlers Face Crucial Window
At the other end of the table, Leicester City, Birmingham City, and newly-promoted Crystal Palace find themselves in a dogfight. Reinforcing their squads, particularly in attacking areas, could prove the difference between survival and relegation. Palace, under the astute guidance of Natalie Williams, have shown resilience but lack cutting edge up front.
- Leicester averaged just 0.8 goals per game in the first half of the season
- Birmingham failed to score in 60% of their matches
- Crystal Palace mustered a mere 4 goals in 10 WSL outings
While none of these clubs are likely to splash huge sums, some smart loan acquisitions or free agent signings could boost their chances of beating the drop. With margins so fine, even a single impact recruit could swing momentum in their favor.
Wildcards: West Ham & Reading
Two teams to watch in January are West Ham United and Reading. Both sides have impressed in patches but lack consistency to challenge the top four. The Hammers have excelled going forward through the likes of Martha Thomas and Viviane Asseyi. However, defensive frailties remain—only Bristol City have shipped more goals. Reading’s issues are the reverse; solid at the back but shy of firepower up top. Smart moves in problem areas could propel either side up the table.
As the WSL’s middle class aim higher and the bottom sides scrap for safety, January promises to be a pivotal month. The window may lack the fireworks of its summer counterpart, but its impact could resound well beyond the winter months. In a league where fine margins can make a season, a well-timed transfer or two may prove transformative. As the window creaks open, opportunity knocks for those bold enough to seize it.
