Lionesses star Lucy Bronze likely to leave Barcelona after Alexia Putellas reaches agreement in principle with the Catalans over new deal

Bronze's current deal in Catalunya expires at the end of this season and a few months ago, reports suggested that a renewal was not a priority for Barca. However, ARA wrote in March that the club wanted to offer the defender a one-year extension with the option of another season, if she would accept a small pay cut. Bronze is one of the team's highest-paid players and there are financial regulations to comply with while also sorting other renewals, most notably that of Putellas, also out of contract this summer.

The news that Barca and Putellas have reached an agreement in principle over a new deal appears to have had a big impact on Bronze's future, though. Shortly after Catalan outlet Sport revealed that news, RAC1 reported that the knock-on effect is that the Lionesses star is now more likely to leave the club.

Speaking to Relevo earlier this season about what happens next, Bronze said: “I love playing for Barcelona. The club loves having me here and I love playing with the girls and the players we have. I don't know what I want to do in the future, but Barcelona is definitely a team I would love to stay with and I know the staff would also love for me to stay. So, we'll see.”

However, the Catalans have three right-backs in their squad, in Bronze, Ona Batlle and Marta Torrejon, adding another reason for the former's potential exit, along with the financial aspects.

The England defender will not be short of suitors if indeed she does leave Barca, with interest from England, France and the United States all rumoured this season alone. She still has the chance to end this chapter of her career on a real high, too, with a quadruple still on the table for the Catalans this term.