{"id":611612,"date":"2022-04-05T09:20:53","date_gmt":"2022-04-05T13:20:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=611612"},"modified":"2022-04-05T09:31:36","modified_gmt":"2022-04-05T13:31:36","slug":"manchester-united-women-full-back-barcelonas-radar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2022\/04\/05\/manchester-united-women-full-back-barcelonas-radar\/","title":{"rendered":"Manchester United Women Full-Back on Barcelona’s Radar"},"content":{"rendered":"

Manchester United Women<\/a> full-back Ona Batlle is the subject of strong interest from European Champions Barcelona ahead of the summer transfer window.<\/p>\n

Batlle’s contract at Manchester United expires this summer, though there is an option to extend for a further 12 months.<\/p>\n

According to BBC Sport’s Emma Sanders<\/a>, her future at the Red Devils might just depend on Champions League<\/a> qualification.<\/p>\n

Manchester United Women Full-Back Ona Batlle Future in Doubt<\/h2>\n

Barcelona Interest Hardly a Surprise<\/h3>\n

Since joining Manchester United in 2020, Batlle has made a real impact and grown plenty of support from the fanbase. It’s clear she was a shrewd signing by former head coach Casey Stoney and has announced herself as one of the best full-backs in world football.<\/p>\n

The versatile Spain international mostly plays at right-back for the Reds with Hannah Blundell, who joined from Chelsea Women<\/a> last summer, operating best on the left. The full-back pairing have been an important part of United’s game under Marc Skinner<\/a> this season, both contributing to five goals each. They are joint – also with Martha Thomas – as the Red Devils’ fifth most productive player(s) in all competitions this season, though Batlle might have been ahead of both, she had the ball over the line in a recent win over Reading, only to be denied by the lack of goal-line technology in the women’s game.<\/p>\n

If she was to leave the club, she would be a huge loss to Manchester United’s famously passionate supporters at Leigh Sports Village.<\/p>\n

Though interest from back home in Spain was always to be expected for a player of her ability and joining arguably the best women’s football club on the planet right now, might be too tough to turn down.<\/p>\n

Manchester United’s Champions League Qualification Chances<\/h3>\n

Manchester United currently occupy the third and final Champions League qualifying slot in the Women’s Super League, though are being run down by a valiant Manchester City side. City are on incredible form and whilst United can only win their games and hope they’ve done enough, they do at times feel like a sitting duck for the one-time WSL winners.<\/p>\n

United had held a comfortable-looking goal difference advantage too, but even that’s been trimmed to just three. There are currently three points separating the sides and the Blues have a game in hand.<\/p>\n

If the Red Devils succeed, they will qualify for the competition for the first time since their formation in 2018.<\/p>\n

Chelsea Interested & Manchester United’s Potential Replacement<\/h3>\n

Emma Sanders also reports that reigning WSL champions Chelsea are also interested in Batlle.<\/p>\n

Chelsea signed promising youngster Lauren James from United last summer and could look to raid the Reds of a top talent again.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, Manchester United are said to have looked at Tottenham Hotspur’s Ashleigh Neville as a potential replacement for Batlle, should she leave.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Main Photo
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>