Alessia Russo: Arsenal make world-record bid for Manchester United and England striker

Alessia Russo's back-heeled decorativeness for England successful the Euro 2022 semi-final against Sweden was nominated for the Fifa Puskas Award for the year's champion goal

Arsenal person made a world-record bid for England guardant Alessia Russo connected the eve of transportation deadline day.

Arsenal, 3 points down Women's Super League leaders United with a crippled successful hand, person been monitoring Russo's declaration concern passim January.

The interest is understood to beryllium much than the £400,000 Barcelona paid for England midfielder Keira Walsh successful September.

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Russo's declaration with the Red Devils runs retired this summertime and the deadline for home transfers successful the WSL is 17:00 GMT connected Tuesday.

Clubs are escaped to speech with Russo arsenic she has little than six months remaining connected her woody and, portion United person continued negotiations with the player, nary statement has yet been reached.

Russo has scored 17 goals successful 35 WSL appearances for United aft joining from North Carolina Tar Heels 3 years ago, and netted 10 times successful 17 caps for England, including 4 successful the Lionesses' Euro 2022 triumph past summer.

Analysis

Emma Sanders, BBC Sport

Manchester United person maintained they bash not privation to suffer Russo, but with her declaration expiring successful the summertime and talks implicit a caller declaration stagnating, they whitethorn find it hard to crook down important offers.

Arsenal, who are besides understood to person made an connection for Lyon's Danish striker Signe Bruun, person maintained their involvement successful Russo for respective months and are surely investigating the waters.

It would instrumentality a immense sum to gully her distant from United earlier the summer, but this archetypal connection shows the Gunners mean business.

Russo is 1 of the outstanding players successful the WSL and her departure, should it happen, could drastically harm United's rubric challenge.

Arsenal themselves are successful the rubric contention and if they are capable to transportation United to merchantability 1 of their large assets, it would further boost their chances of getting their hands connected the trophy.

Russo has attracted involvement from respective apical clubs successful Europe - including WSL rivals Chelsea - wherever she started her elder vocation - and European champions Lyon - and some could yet marque a determination earlier the deadline.

Should United take not to sell, they could hazard losing Russo for escaped successful six months' clip anyway.