The January transfer window opens in a matter of weeks, and it could be a busy one as Women's Super League (WSL) clubs look to strengthen their squads ahead of the second half of the season.
Chelsea It is currently top of the table, closely followed by the likes Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United. At the other end of the table, there are at least seven clubs at risk of being drawn into the relegation battle.
WSL Work for 2024 will end next weekend before the winter break. It will then resume at the end of January and the clubs will be hoping to have a few new faces among their ranks.
With that said, 90min has looked at six WSL stars who could look for playing time elsewhere next month, whether that be permanently or on loan…
It's no secret that Chloe Kelly's future at Manchester City is up in the air as her contract approaches the final few months. She last signed an extension in 2022 and that deal expires in the summer.
With no breakthrough looking imminent, the 26-year-old may be considering her options in the transfer window. She will no doubt have her eyes on next summer's European Championship, and having played an important role in England's 2022 World Cup win, Kelly will be determined to keep herself in Sarina Wegman's thoughts ahead of the tournament.
The England coach has previously suggested the striker The lack of playing time with her club is a concernBut her choice was not in doubt because of her bank balance. Injuries at forward positions have certainly helped in the last two international camps, but that could change by the summer as players return to full fitness.
It remains to be seen whether Kelly's intention is to remain at the Air Force beyond this season, but if the plan is to move on a free agent within six months, it would not be surprising to see a move in January.
Another player who is struggling for her club game is Danish international Katherine Cole. The 21-year-old signed for Arsenal in January 2023 from Danish club Nordsjæland, but things did not go well for the midfielder.
She spent the second half of last season on loan with WSL rivals Everton, and the opportunity to reunite with her former manager, Brian Sorensen, was a huge benefit of the move. Despite remaining at Arsenal in the summer, minutes have been extremely difficult to come by for Cole this season as she made her league debut in just seven minutes against Aston Villa over the weekend.
Arsenal's depth in midfield and minimal minutes this season could prompt the youngster to look for another loan away, especially with the Euros just months away.
Another Arsenal player who could be on the move is 19-year-old Freya Godfrey. The striker had a previous spell in the Championship with Charlton Athletic, but remains with Arsenal for the first half of the 2024/25 season.
A Report from BBC journalist Emma Sanders Back in August, Arsenal were open to a loan deal for Godfrey to boost their development, but nothing materialized before the window closed in September. Since she hasn't racked up a lot of minutes so far this semester, it's possible she could reconsider her loan options in January.
Elsewhere, Manchester City's Cody Thomas is another promising young star making her way through the ranks. She signed her first official contract with the club earlier this month after making her Champions League debut against St. Pölten in October.
The next step in the 18-year-old's development could be a loan move to a WSL or Championship club in order to accumulate more regular playing time, rather than the odd appearance here and there.
Alejandra Bernabe, the 23-year-old left-back, joined Chelsea in the summer of 2023 and spent last season on loan in La Liga with Real Sociedad. Her playing time this season has been largely with the academy and she is often an unused substitute with the first team.
Despite injuries to the back four, Sonia Bombastor still has the likes of Ashley Lawrence, Niamh Charles and Oriani Jean-François as options at left-back. Charles' recent return from injury is likely to further restrict Burnaby's chances.
A loan, either in England or abroad, could be on the table in January as Burnaby is a player with a lot of promise, but is currently not getting the minutes needed to further her development.
Sticking with left-back, Manchester United's Jess Simpson returns this season after a long layoff due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury. They have accumulated some minutes under Mark Skinner this season, mostly in the League Cup, but United have a good position.
Gabby George is first choice, while they also signed 21-year-old Anna Sandberg from PK Hacken in the summer. Leah Galton featured at left-back too, which only reinforced Simpson's low position in the pecking order.
Not going out on loan in the summer made sense as the 19-year-old completed her recovery from her anterior cruciate ligament and regained her fitness under the supervision of the United staff. However, a loan move in January could be ideal for both parties, especially if she is able to achieve similar results to Grace Clinton's spells at Bristol City and Tottenham.