'She's our player' - Chloe Kelly January transfer possibility squashed by Man City boss Gareth Taylor as Lionesses star enters final six months of contract amid struggles for game time

Kelly has long been a regular starter at City but that has changed in the last 12 months, with her losing her place in the starting line-up at the end of the 2023-24 season and so far finding it tough to regain it through the current campaign, with summer signing Aoba Fujino and academy prospect Lily Murphy among those seemingly ahead of her in the pecking order.

Three starts in all competitions for the winger has led to England boss Sarina Wiegman admitting she is concerned about Kelly's game time, which will surely make the player nervous about making the Lionesses' squad for this summer's European Championship. A January move could be best for her, then.

Speaking in his press conference on Friday, though, City boss Taylor said there was "nothing really to report" when asked about January interest in Kelly or progress in contract negotiations with the 26-year-old, who will be a free agent this summer if nothing changes.

"Chloe was with us last week," he said, referring to the team's winter training camp in Abu Dhabi. "She looked really sharp. She looked fresh, [with] renewed energy and optimism for this period. But at this moment in time, there's no news on any kind of deals at all, so while that happens, she's our player, she's a part of the team, a part of the squad."

A report in the Daily Mail earlier this season suggested that there had been a breakdown in the relationship between Taylor and Kelly, leading to a stall in contract talks. The coach dismissed the claim, calling the story "a non-event".

Kelly will hope her playing time increases as the second half of the season prepares to get underway this weekend, starting with an FA Cup fourth round tie at home to third-tier Ipswich Town on Sunday.