Arsenal to ward off rival interest from Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Manchester City by handing lucrative new contract to Katie McCabe

Arsenal have been in talks with McCabe over a new deal, with her current one set to end at the end of the season.

The two parties are set to close negotiations soon with the Ireland captain ready to put pen to paper, The Athletic.

Arsenal have had to contend with interest from other top sides, having rejected a sizeable offer from Chelsea in January, while City and Bayern Munich have also shown interest in her.

McCabe has been nominated for the 2023 Ballon d'Or, becoming the first Irish player to be in the running for such a prize since Manchester United icon Roy Keane came in sixth in the voting in 1999.

Convincing McCabe to sign a new deal will come as a big boost for Arsenal ahead of the new of the Women's Super League season kicking off this weekend.