Manchester United and Chelsea chase Durham’s Poppy Pritchard as a January signing with Women’s Super League clubs queueing up for England Under-19s international

• Multiple WSL clubs are pursuing Poppy Pritchard ahead of the January window
• Durham are struggling to agree a contract and want a hefty release clause
• United are three points behind City… a league table can LIE. There are chasms between them – It’s All Kicking Off 

Chelsea and Manchester United are among the Women’s Super League clubs chasing the signature of England U19 international Poppy Pritchard ahead of the January transfer window.

The forward currently plays for Championship side Durham and has 21 goals for the U21 side, first team and England U19 combined.

Pritchard turned 18 on December 3 so is eligible to sign a professional contract and has interest from Chelsea, Manchester United, Brighton, Leicester and Bristol City.

United have a long-standing interest but this ramped up when Pritchard netted a hat-trick against their development side in November.

Chelsea have also admired the youngster while Brighton and Bristol City see her as a first-team player from January.

Chelsea and Manchester United are among the Women’s Super League clubs chasing the signature of Durham’s Poppy Pritchard

Pritchard has broken in to the England U19s set-up and is seen as a future first-team player

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Durham have offered Pritchard a contract but are struggling to reach an agreement.

It is understood the Championship club want to insert a release clause that could potentially go over six figures, which industry sources have described as unprecedented in the women’s game.

Durham would be entitled to compensation if Pritchard leaves before signing a professional contract under new PGA rules introduced this summer, but that would only be £5,000 if she joins as a WSL club.

Pritchard’s form has also made her a target for major boot brands Nike, Puma and Adidas, as well as newcomers Skechers – who recently signed a lifetime multi-million-pound deal with Harry Kane.

Skechers want to link up with a striker who will be in the England women set up in the future and see Pritchard as a potential marquee signing.

Pritchard is represented by Gen-Z Football who have a track record of moving young English talents in the last 12 months. Evie Rabjohn, who joined United from Aston Villa, and Brooke Aspin, who signed for Chelsea from Bristol City, are both represented by the same agency.

A spokesperson for Gen-Z Football declined to comment.

Durham have offered Pritchard a contract and want to insert a release clause that could potentially go over six figures

The club, led by Lee Sanders, are seventh in the Women’s Championship and could lose Pritchard for just £5,000

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