'That is crazy' - Marc Skinner admits Man Utd can't keep up with big-spending London City Lionesses after record-breaking Grace Geyoro transfer

Women's Super League newcomers, the London City Lionesses, stunned the football world by confirming Geyoro’s arrival in a record-breaking transfer. The side, who are backed by American businesswoman Michele Kang, have signed 16 players this summer and are now looking to shake up the WSL leadership group.

By comparison, Skinner's Manchester United have only completed a total of three transfers in the form of Fridolina Rolfo, Julia Zigiotti Olme and Jess Park. However, the London City Lionesses are not the only team troubling the Red Devils' status in the WSL, as European champions Arsenal and WSL champions Chelsea have also been heavily active in the transfer market. Skinner has revealed his surprise at what was a 'crazy' transfer window, and also admitted that Manchester United cannot keep up wth their competition in the market.

Speaking to the media, Skinner opened up on the Lionesses' spending spree and said: "Who would have thought that in this window we’d have four £1m players? It’s moved so quickly. I just think we won’t be able to, right now, go to those levels of transfer fee. I’ll be honest about that. The reality is we have to try and find our own way to do it, to adapt, to evolve, and to find space in the market where we can still bring top players to Manchester United."

On Geyoro's move, he added: "We have to be active in the winter window. If we’re being really honest, the window has gone crazy, right? I’m just hearing about the Grace Geyoro move. That is crazy. The window and the market has just shifted so much that actually, I think a lot of teams will have looked at it and gone ‘we need to strategise in a slightly different way.’ Long story short, I think we have, for now, exactly the right team that we want. But I think in the winter window, we have to add to this group if we want to continue that and give an extra charge.

"I’ve got a team that I have to win with, right? And I have to not make excuses. But at Manchester United, I have the most pressure job in the country — and we have to find the right amount of investment to stay competitive."

"If Michele walked away from London City, then that would fall away. But fair play to them, hopefully it’s good for the women’s game. There’ll be pressure on London City now to deliver because they’ve spent big."

Manchester United kick off their season against Leicester City on Sunday, September 7.