WSL Transfer Preview: Man United, Arsenal Depth, Liverpool Needs

## WSL Winter Transfer Window: What Each Team Needs to Do

The 2026 winter transfer window for the Women’s Super League (WSL) begins on Jan. 2 and ends on Feb. 3, but what do teams need to do?

Manchester City have set the pace and lead the table by six points as we head into the winter break, with action set to resume on Jan. 10, while Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United have work to do to catch them. So here’s a team-by-team roundup of what each WSL side will be targeting when the window opens.

Manchester City

Having had their best start to the season, City do not need to do much. New manager Andree Jeglertz will have a better understanding of what the team needs now, after he arrived in the summer, so could look to strengthen their position. City are certainly keen on bringing in a defensive midfielder to provide a rotation option for Japan star Yui hasegawawho the team rely on heavily.

Up front, there are no problems in attack. City have scored 32 goals so far, six more than Man United, but the producer of 12 of those goals, Khadija “Bunny” Shaw, is out of contract in the summer. The prolific Jamaica international has been at the club as 2021 and recently scored her 100th goal for the club, so getting her to sign a long-term contract has to be Man City’s primary focus. City have already extended the contracts of Hasegawa (2029), defender Alex Greenwood (2027), and winger Arsenal and Manchester United: WSL Title Contenders Facing Crucial Summers

Arsenal are looking to bolster their squad with key additions to challenge for the WSL title, with a focus on addressing several areas. A ligament injury necessitates a right-back capable of rotating with Emily Fox, potentially in the form of Hammarby IF and Sweden international Smilla Holmberg (19). A young central defender is also a priority due to Katie Reid’s injury, and midfield depth is required. Despite the addition of £1 million winger olivia Smith last summer, Arsenal’s squad has the highest average age in the WSL (28 years and 13 days), relying heavily on older players.

London City Lionesses

First, they need a manager. London City dramatically sacked Jocelyn precheur at the end of December after a pretty decent run in their debut WSL season that took them to sixth before the winter break. Precheur had earned them promotion from the Championship after leaving

Tottenham Hotspur

tottenham are looking to build on a promising start to the season and are reportedly interested in bolstering their midfield and attacking options. The arrival of Cathinka Tandberg has already added creativity, and will certainly help the club push for a top-four spot with her creative skills.

After a dismal 11th-place finish last season, Spurs look much better this season under new manager Martin Ho and he brought in some key talent over the summer, such as The Women’s Super league is reaching the halfway point, and while some teams are firmly establishing themselves at the top, others are looking to bolster their squads to climb the table. Here’s a look at what each WSL team should prioritize in the January transfer window:

Arsenal

Arsenal have been solid defensively, with Sphate — but adding some defensive depth would help keep that solidity.

Aston Villa

villa need a proven forward. Four teams (including Villa) have netted 14 WSL goals thus far,but Rachel Daly and kirsty Hanson have been unable to get on the ball in the box as much as needed,as both need to drop deep to start moves and help defensively. Adding a striker with a proven goal-scoring record would allow Daly to remain deep and provide cover for her eventual retirement, as she is now 34.

After exciting, creative midfielder Lucia Kendall21, had two breakout camps with England, Villa can look to build their team around her. Meanwhile, a defender, either a centre back or full back — or ideally someone who can fill both roles — would add some depth to the defense.And some experience and leadership would also help to guide their young team.

Leicester City

Leicester City are another side in need of some depth, having scored the fewest goals (7) and conceded 20. If they wont to remain competitive then bringing in options on the wing and at striker are non-negotiable. The team could also do with some midfield control and

WSL January Transfer Window: Needs and Priorities for West Ham and liverpool

The January transfer window is crucial for several teams in the Women’s Super League (WSL) as they look to address weaknesses and bolster their squads for the second half of the season. For West Ham United and Liverpool, the stakes are particularly high as they battle to climb away from the lower reaches of the table. Here’s a breakdown of the key needs and priorities for both clubs as the window opens.

West Ham United

West Ham United find themselves in a precarious position, currently battling to avoid relegation. A recent managerial change,with Rita Guarino replacing Paul Konchesky,adds further urgency to their transfer business. The Hammers have conceded the most goals in the WSL so far this season, and a lack of attacking firepower is also a significant concern.

Key Priorities:

* Center Backs: Addressing the defensive fragility is paramount. West Ham need at least two experienced center backs to solidify the backline and reduce the number of goals conceded.
* Striker: With the third-fewest goals scored in the league, a proven goalscorer is essential. A new striker could provide the cutting edge West Ham currently lacks.
* Box-to-Box Midfielder: Adding a dynamic midfielder who can contribute both defensively and offensively will be vital for improving control and creativity in the center of the pitch. This player needs to be able to link defense to attack and provide support to both lines.

West Ham, like many teams in the WSL, will need to maximize their activity in the transfer window to ensure their survival in the league.

Liverpool

Liverpool are facing a challenging season, currently at the bottom of the WSL table. A lack of squad depth, exacerbated by injuries, has contributed to their struggles. The club’s failure to reinvest the transfer fee received from the sale of winger Missy Bo Kearns to Arsenal over the summer has left them critically short of personnel. https://www.arsenal.com/news/arsenal-sign-missy-bo-kearns

Key Priorities:

* Squad Depth – Across the Board: Liverpool’s most pressing need is a significant injection of players across all positions. The squad is simply to thin to compete effectively.
* Defensive Reinforcements: while overall squad depth is the biggest issue, strengthening the defense is crucial. Conceding too many goals has been a recurring problem.
* Addressing Injuries: The club has been hit hard by ACL injuries to key players https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/marie-hobinger-injury-update

* Midfield Reinforcements: Improving control and creativity in midfield is also vital. A lack of dynamism in this area has hampered Liverpool’s ability to dictate games.

While there is no direct relegation from the WSL, finishing in 12th place would require navigating a playoff against the third-placed team from the WSL 2 to retain their league status. Liverpool manager gareth Taylor has acknowledged the difficulty of competing in the transfer market, but significant investment is needed to avoid this scenario.[https://wwwliverpoolfccom/news/gareth-taylor-reflects-[https://wwwliverpoolfccom/news/gareth-taylor-reflects-