Russo record bid will not distract her, says Wiegman
Sarina Wiegman has insisted that Manchester United striker Alessia Russo has not been fazed by Arsenal’s world-record transfer bid.
The England head coach named Russo in her 26-player squad for the Arnold Clark Cup mini-tournament a week after the 23-year-old was the subject of a headline-grabbing £500,000 approach from Arsenal that would have made her the world’s most expensive female footballer.
“It [transfer deadline day] is developing in the women’s game, it was a big topic, and she was the subject of it,” Wiegman said of Russo. “I went to Manchester United’s game on Sunday and I don’t think she was distracted, she was just doing her job and was very motivated to play a good game.”
Russo is among seven forwards in Wiegman’s Lionesses squad, with captain Leah Williamson back after missing November’s camp through injury. Manchester City midfielder Laura Coombs, fresh from signing a contract with her club until 2025 earlier yesterday, received her first national team call-up since 2020.
However, while Russo ended up staying put on deadline day, this squad highlights that moving clubs to try to get more game time ahead of the World Cup will be no guarantee of selection. Midfielders Jordan Nobbs and Lucy Staniforth switched to Aston Villa from Arsenal and Manchester United respectively last month, but neither has been selected by the Dutch coach, despite bright starts for their new clubs. Striker Bethany England made a £200,000 move to Tottenham from Chelsea and has scored three times in her first four games in all competitions, but that has not proved enough for a Lionesses place yet. “They’re competing for selection,” said Wiegman when asked about that trio. “It’s good they get [match] minutes, that makes their position better, but doesn’t guarantee that you’re being selected.”
England will defend the Arnold Clark Cup trophy when facing South Korea, Italy and Belgium on Feb 16, 19 and 22 respectively.