Lionesses star Chloe Kelly has gone public with her desire to leave Manchester City as she tries to force a switch to local rivals Manchester United.
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Kelly has fallen down Man City pecking orderWSL side are blocking move to rivals Man UtdLionesses winger has now released statementFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Kelly, one of the highest-profile players in the Women's Super League, has seen doubt cast over her future at Manchester City after falling down the selection pecking order. The Lionesses forward has started just one of the 12 WSL games played by Gareth Taylor's side and has now been linked with a switch to city rivals Manchester United on loan.
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Telegraph Sport has reported both United and Brighton have made bids to sign the Lionesses forward on loan but that the Red Devils are apparently her preferred move. However, Manchester City are said to be reluctant to let Kelly go to their fierce rivals, with the 27-year-old having since issued a statement asserting that the club "dictated" which team she could join during the January transfer window, causing her "mental well-being" to suffer.
WHAT KELLY SAID
On Instagram, Kelly posted a statement that read: “For a long time, I’ve tried to work through professional challenges privately, not commenting publicly, but with my situation increasingly being debated in the public domain, I feel it’s time to be open and transparent, and you heard it from my perspective.
“A key lesson I have learned in my life is that whilst I can’t control someone’s negative behaviour towards me, I can control how long I am prepared to tolerate it.
“From day one, I’ve felt so much love from my team-mates and the fans. With my contract expiring in June I’ve accepted my future is not at this club beyond then.
“With the Euros fast approaching, this summer is a huge one and I want to be in a position to give it my best shot to represent my country. Something which has always filled me with such pride and it is a true honour to do so.
“However, to be dictated whom I can and can’t join with only four months left of the football season is having a huge impact on not only my career but my mental well-being. The situation has dragged on for too long, it’s disappointing and not right.
“I’m at a pivotal point in my life and my career is so important to me and [it] is very disappointing that the sport we love can make you feel this way, especially after there’s been so much growth in our sport.
“This is why I’m posting this because I want to make you all aware that we as players dedicate our lives to our sport and our clubs but our dreams can be crushed whilst we live in silence.
“I am human and I have and will give everything to the game that I love. Ultimately, I just want to be happy again.”
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR KELLY?
The Manchester City forward will likely leave the club this year although she faces a race against time to be able to escape her situation in January, with the WSL transfer window closing on January 30 at 11pm GMT.
