Women’s Super League

JILL ROORD is being heavily linked with a summer move to Wolfsburg from Arsenal.The German outfit are thought to be keen on adding the Netherlands midfielder to their ranks and have refused to rule out a move for her, according to Sports Buzzer.
Media outlets in Germany claim Jill Roord has been linked with a move to WolfsburgCredit: Zuma Press
When asked about Roord the club’s sporting director Ralf Kellermann remained tight-lipped.
He said: “We will not comment on transfer rumors in the week before the important game against Bayern.”
Wolfsburg are looking to strengthen their squad after being knocked out of the Women’s Champions League by Chelsea in the contest’s quarter-finals.
The two clubs have done business previously with the Gunners selling Dominique Janssen to Wolfsburg in 2019.
Roord, 24, who moved to Arsenal in 2019 from four-time Women’s Bundesliga champs Bayern Munich, has made 32 WSL appearances for the Gunners.
The Netherlands star’s contract with the club, who play Aston Villa in their final game of the season, expires in 2022.
And no news on a new deal has been revealed by either party ahead of the Villa which will be Joe Montemurro’s final league game in charge of the club.
Montemurro, who is due to leave Arsenal after the 2020-21 season, believes Roord will stay at the club and said contract discussions are ‘under control’ at the moment.
In an interview with ArseBlog in April, Montemurro said: “Those discussions have been taking place and are continuing.
“So they will start to come to the fore over the next month or so, they are all under control at this stage.”
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Wolfsburg are reportedly looking to strengthen their squad this summerCredit: Getty

And despite his imminent exit, Montemurro revealed that he is still playing an active role in tying down Roord and several others’ futures with the club.
He added: “In terms of the football stuff, I am still involved and I’m still pushing things forward from that perspective.”
Roord has been in fine form for the Gunners this season, scoring ten goals across all competitions, including two hat-tricks in consecutive league games against Reading and West Ham.
Her seven WSL goals in 18 games have helped Arsenal qualify for the Champions League next season after missing out on this term’s contest
And it is hoped the Gunners competing in Europe will be a strong incentive for her to resist Wolfsburg’s advances.
Jill Roord’s current contract with Arsenal is due to end in 2022Credit: Getty
Roord’s Arsenal team-mate Katie McCabe has signed a new long-term contract with the clubCredit: Getty
The North London side have been boosted by Roord’s team-mate Katie McCabe signing a new long-term deal ahead of next term.
The Republic of Ireland captain, who has made 18 league starts for the Gunners this season, stated her desire to win more trophies as her main reason for staying put.
McCabe said: “I’m absolutely delighted. I love this club and I feel like we’re in a really good place and that we’re ready to push on.
“I’m delighted it got done and now I’m ready to kick on and help this club win more trophies.”
Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
Joe Montemurro is confident Roord will stay on at ArsenalCredit: Rex
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SAM KERR’s deadly double gave Chelsea the edge over spirited Spurs as the champions dispatched their rivals to return to the league’s summit.  And the Blues were forced to dig deep for the 2-0 win which leaves them one victory away from clinching back-to-back WSL titles.  
Sam Kerr was on target twice for Chelsea who picked up their second WSL win against Tottenham this seasonCredit: Getty
Kerr has scored 26 goals across all competitions for Chelsea this termCredit: Getty
Emma Hayes was full of praise for the tenacious Kerr who has reached a tally of 26 goals across all competitions this term.
Hayes said: “When it’s your season, things go for you in the same way just like they did for Beth (England) last year. 
“I think when the ball is falling to Sam she’s taking responsibility for the team. 
“She’s doing it again and again which is important. 
“I feel a bit bad not leaving her on to get her hat-trick but we’ve got other games to prepare for and I didn’t want to take any risks.” 
Hayes made five changes to the side that knocked Bayern Munich out of the Champions League with Guro Reiten, Erin Cuthbert and Beth England among the players to start. 
Spurs had an early chance to stun their visitors with Rianna Dean getting in behind Chelsea’s defence. 
But her tame effort flew straight into the arms of Ann-Katrin Berger in the third minute. 
Chelsea are due to play Reading in their final WSL game this seasonCredit: Getty

One of Chelsea’s earliest opportunities came moments later with Reiten whipping in a neat low cross for England who sent her poked effort wide of Spencer’s far post. 
And the ex-Blues stopper Spencer pulled off two fine saves to keep the game scoreless close to the seventh minute.  
Her stops included a top drawer diving parry to keep out Sophie Ingle’s drilled effort. 
The hosts had another chance to get on the scoresheet through Lucy Quinn on the counter before Berger blocked her shot near the half-hour mark.
The 0-0 scoreline lasted until just moments before the half-time whistle. 
And it was Kerr who put the champs ahead with her low thumping opener off the back of a superb diagonal Millie Bright and a Reiten pass.
The Australia ace was on target minutes into the second-half to register her 20th WSL goal this term. 
Rehanne Skinner said Becky Spencer was outstanding in goal against ChelseaCredit: Getty
This time smashing in a rebound after Spencer pulled off a superb block save to keep out the forward’s powerful header.
It was a case of keeping cruise control and a clean sheet for Hayes who made five second-half changes with Jess Carter and Pernille Harder among the subs to join the fray. 
And the Blues held their hosts at bay to pick up their 17th win of the season ahead of their final game of the term against Reading. 
Should the Blues defeat the Royals they will become the first side to retain the WSL crown since Liverpool in 2014.
The result leaves Tottenham destined to finish eighth ahead of an end of season trip to Birmingham. 
Tottenham will finish this season in eighth place in the WSLCredit: Rex
And Skinner was full of praise for keeper Spencer. 
Skinner said: “Becky’s a very experienced goalkeeper in this league, and I know I can rely on her in these situations.
“She was nothing short of outstanding against Chelsea. She did everything she could to hold up her end of the deal. 
“It just showed in terms of her confidence in and around what she was doing.”
Emma Hayes and Chelsea are two wins away from a Champions League and WSL doubleCredit: Rex
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ESME MORGAN dedicated her first-ever goal for Manchester City to her great aunt who passed away a day before.The defender opened up her account as a senior player for the WSL giants in City’s 4-0 rout of Birmingham.
Morgan scored her first-ever senior goal for Man City in their penultimate game of the seasonCredit: Getty
The England Under-21 player netted City’s fourth goal in their 4-0 trouncing of BirminghamCredit: Getty
The England Under-21 starlet, whose team face West Ham in their WSL final game this term, tucked the ball across the line in the 85th minute of the clash.
But her special moment was tinged with sadness as her great aunt Rita did not get to cheer on her effort.
Rita, a life-long City fan who previously attended Morgan’s matches, had tragically passed away just 24 hours before the game.
And Sheffield-born Morgan, who was visibly emotional after her side’s win, dedicated her strike to Rita who had a huge impact on her life.
Morgan told Man City’s web site: “My great aunt passed away and she used to sit in the front row.
“She used to come to every single home game and loved cheering us on from the stands.
“And I thought, it’s just so typical, we’ve waited so long for me to score my first goal.
“And just one day too late almost, but at the same time it’s almost the perfect tribute because she’ll be looking down somewhere celebrating I’m sure.
“She would have loved to be here but I’m so proud that I sort of paid tribute to her in the best way I could think which is to score for City, the club she loved so much.”
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Morgan dedicated her first goal as a senior pro player for Man City to her late great aunt RitaCredit: Getty

“In terms of the goal, it definitely was not as glamorous as I’d had dreamed!
“I actually said to some of the girls: ‘No-one has ever celebrated such a trickly goal!
“It bobbled in slow motion – I haven’t actually watched it many times – but I was so giddy!
“Although it wasn’t the screamer I’d hoped for, the feeling was exactly how I’d imagined – just sheer joy when I saw it go in!
“Hopefully, I can use it as a springboard to get some more!”

Morgan, who has made 11 WSL appearances for City this term, says she felt euphoric after scoring and hopes her debut goal will be the first of many.
And the Citizens player, who spent the 2019-20 season on loan at Everton, could be in line for starting spot against the Irons.
Team boss Gareth Taylor will be hoping his side can register another win with their WSL title duel with Chelsea going right to the wire.
City currently sit at the summit of the WSL table a point above Chelsea who play Tottenham in their penultimate league game this term.
And Taylor’s aces without the attacking prowess of Chloe Kelly who is out of action for a lengthy period due to ACL injury to her knee.
Morgan and her team-mates play league strugglers West Ham in their final WSL game of the seasonCredit: Getty
Morgan revealed she and her team-mates were distraught to see Kelly go off injured but said the striker is feeling “positive.”
Morgan added: “We were so gutted for Chloe. No-one wishes that on anyone and she’d been playing so well.
“Just before she went off, she told Ellen [White] to score a goal for her, although Ellen was substituted shortly after.
“After the game, I went in to see her and she was buzzing I’d scored.
“She’s feeling quite positive, looking on the bright side of things so she’s doing as well as she could be.”
Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
Morgan revealed she was gutted Chloe Kelly was injuredCredit: Getty
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REHANNE SKINNER wants Tottenham to be lethal in attack against Chelsea as they aim to avenge a 4-0 derby drubbing. Spurs, who play the Blues later, came close to opening the scoring twice before their Kingsmeadow opponents sealed an emphatic win in January.
Rehanne Skinner wants Tottenham to be more clinical in front of goal against ChelseaCredit: Getty
Tottenham have scored five goals in their last eight WSL games since their 4-0 loss to ChelseaCredit: Getty
And this evening Skinner wants her team – who are eighth- to put more pressure on Emma Hayes’ players when the clubs go head-to-head in north London. 
Skinner, 41, said: “It is important we remember what the first 20-25 minutes of the last game against Chelsea looked like. 
“We were the better side and could have scored two goals if we had been more clinical. 
“We need to be ruthless and able to sustain the press for longer periods of time going into this game. 
“Job number one is that we have to be incredibly hard to break down. 
“If we can do that, that keeps us in the game and gives us a platform to work from.
“We acknowledge that when we conceded the first goal last time, the response wasn’t good enough and we conceded a second really quickly after that having been in a much stronger position before. 
“Obviously, we want to manage that and show we have improved and progressed from that perspective
“We want to prove we can handle ourselves in situations like that when we go a goal down.
“We have got to be able to manage momentum better during a game and not be affected by conceding a goal and actually stick to the things that we are doing well as opposed to changing our attitude and approach. 
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A win for Chelsea against Tottenham would see them move back to top spot in the WSLCredit: Rex

Tottenham, who are six places below their London rivals, are looking to pick up their first win in the top-flight since January 17. 
The club have won just once in the league so far this year notching up three draws and seven losses since their 1-0 defeat of West Ham. 
A defeat of Chelsea, who are targeting back-to-back league titles, would see Spurs pick up their fifth win in the WSL this term.
It would also see them register their first victory against the Blues since their promotion to the top tier in 2019. 
Chelsea have lost just one game in the league this termCredit: PA
Skinner added: “It is important that we deliver on what we have worked on and stick to our game plan. 
“If we do those things well, we stand a much better chance of getting something from the game.
“It will be a tough test, but we aspire to challenge the top teams in the league and we’re looking forward to it.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea, who are second in the table, are looking to regain top spot and a two-point lead over Manchester City. 
A win against Tottenham would see them return to the WSL’s summit before their final game of the season against Reading. 
And a defeat of the Royals as well as Spurs would result in Chelsea winning their fifth league title. 
Tottenham are looking to pick up their first win in the WSL against ChelseaCredit: Getty
But Blues winger Niamh Charles reckons her team will not be underestimating Tottenham despite their 4-0 result last time out.
Charles told Chelsea’s web site: “At this stage of the season, every team is wanting to finish the season strong so we won’t be underestimating them.
“They are going to be a tough test and that’s a credit to the WSL.
“Every game is hard but we’ll be going into it as we do every game and trying to win.”
Tottenham vs Chelsea in the WSL will be broadcast live on BT Sport 1 from 5:30 pm.
Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
Niamh Charles says the Blues expect a tough test against TottenhamCredit: PA
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