I apologise for such a long post, but most of it is data.
I am not sure what goes on behind the scenes, but is anything but stable. Chaotic could well be appropriate. This suggests that leadership and management needs a complete overhaul - familiar story!
Last season we pushed Chelsea close in both the WSL and the FA Cup. Okay, we lost two key players, but our transfer record suggests that nobody really has a vision or strategy:
Manchester United
In:
- Hinata Miyazawa (transfer from MyNavi Sendai)
- Evie Rabjohn (transfer from Aston Villa)
- Gemma Evans (transfer from Reading)
- Geyse Da Silva Ferreira (transfer from Barcelona)
- Keira Barry (Academy to professional)
- Emma Watson (transfer from Rangers for first professional contract)
- Melvine Malard (loan from Lyon for the 2023/24 season)
- Phallon Tullis-Joyce (transfer from OL Reign)
- Gabby George (transfer from Everton)
- Irene Guerrero (transfer from Atletico Madrid)
Out:
- Alessia Russo (heading to Arsenal)
- Ona Batlle (heading to Barcelona)
- Emily Ramsey (heading to Everton)
- Tara Bourne (heading to Sheffield United)
- Jade Moore
- Estelle Cascarino (heading to Paris Saint-Germain)
- Aissatou Tounkara (heading to Paris Saint-Germain)
- Estelle Cascarino (was on loan from Paris Saint-Germain)
- Grace Clinton (loaned to Tottenham for 2023/24 season)
- Maria Thorisdottir (heading to Brighton & Hove Albion)
- Carrie Jones (heading to Bristol City)
- Adriana Leon (heading to Aston Villa)
- Vilde Boe Risa (heading to Atletico Madrid)
- Alyssa Aherne (loaned to Everton for 2023/24 season)
- Sophie Baggaley (heading to Brighton & Hove Albion)
- Jess Simpson (loaned to Bristol City)
- Martha Thomas (heading to Tottenham)
- Ivana Fuso (transfer to Birmingham City)
- Bella Reidford (dual registration with Burnley)
- Keira Barry (loaned to Crystal Palace)
- Kirsty Hanson (heading to Aston Villa)
- Niamh Murphy (heading to Blackburn Rovers)
- Chloe Williams (heading to Blackburn Rovers)
By contrast, City, who finished fourth last year, only made ONE signing and sold ONE ( with one more as a dual registration)
Chelsea Women are following in the men's footsteps and hoovering up talent - they bought twelve players and immediately loaned ten of them out. They have also loaned out four that they already had.
Arsenal bought five (from United, PSG, Barcelona, Benfica and Hammarby) They sold two and loaned three.
I'd suggest from all this that things are not great behind the scenes at United and that we lack the joined-up thinking of the other three teams, both on and off the pitch.
Apologies once again for the length of this post.
Edit: I realise that contracts are much shorter in the women's game, so transferred does not necessarily mean any fee was involved.