Women's Super League

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West Ham boss Rehanne Skinner said "there are a lot of incentives" when her side face Liverpool on Sunday for the second time in four days.

The Hammers were beaten 5-0 by Matt Beard's side in the FA Cup on Wednesday but face them again this weekend in the Women's Super League.

"I'm glad we are playing the game at the weekend and so are the players," Skinner said.

"It's an opportunity for us to show what we are capable of. We are capable of causing them problems and we want to go and show them what we are about.

"It puts us in a fantastic position where the league table is concerned. There are a lot of incentives for this game for sure."

Here are more key lines from Skinner's news conference before Sunday's game (kick-off 14:00 GMT)

• Overall Skinner was happy with West Ham's January transfer activity, though she said the club tried to sign a defensive midfielder: "We were openly looking for more of a defensive midfeidler to support where we are at but we didn't feel we could get what we needed in this window."

• Skinner feels her side "have been improving every single game" and with consistency "there are lots of teams around us where we can pick up points".

• On Chelsea signing Naomi Girma for a record women's transfer fee, Skinner said: "For most people in the league it is important to say the money that has been spent on two transfers for two players is more than half of the WSL's whole budget."

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New Aston Villa boss Natalia Arroyo said her aim in the coming months is to bridge the gap between the Women's Super League top teams, not in terms of points, but performances.

The 38-year-old Spaniard, who left Real Sociedad at the end of the 2023-24 season, has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal and takes charge of the team for the first time against WSL leaders Chelsea on Sunday.

"It has been three big days, exciting days," Arroyo said.

"There are enough points to think that we can achieve bigger positions. Our mission and our goal in these months is to make this gap shorter. Not in terms of points, but feeling we can really compete with them in every game.

"Some results against these teams were good, others not. Why not understand that we can compete against them?"

Here are more key lines from Arroyo's news conference before Sunday's game (14:30 GMT)

• Facing Chelsea in her first game is "a big challenge" but Arroyo wants her team to "be brave and trust the process".

• On why she took the job at Villa, she added: "The club has a big history, it is a great project and they are really trying to make the women's team bigger here year after year. It finally happened and it's like a dream come true."

• On her playing style and what fans can expect: "Hopefully we can see a team that wants to have the ball, that has clear intentions with the ball, to score as many goals as possible and when we don't have the ball to press as aggressive and as high as possible."

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Sonia Bompastor, Marc Skinner and Robert Vilahamn have been nominated for the Women's Super League manager of the month award for January.

Bompastor's Chelsea side have extended their unbeaten WSL record this season to 12 matches with wins over Arsenal, West Ham and Brighton.

However, the Blues dropped points for the first time this month when they drew at Leicester.

Skinner, meanwhile, guided Manchester United to four WSL wins out of four in January, including a 4-2 victory against rivals Manchester City.

Tottenham boss Vilahamn has helped Spurs clinch 13 points out of a possible 16 and moved up to sixth in the table with wins over Crystal Palace, Leicester and Everton.

For the player of the month award, Tottenham's Bethany England, Manchester United's Ella Toone and Elisabeth Terland, Chelsea's Millie Bright and Nathalie Bjorn, Manchester City's Vivianne Miedema, Liverpool's Olivia Smith and Leicester's Julie Thibaud have all been nominated.

Emily Salley
BBC Sport journalist

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Brighton boss Dario Vidosic hopes new signing Nadine Noordam will "play a big part" during the second half of the season.

The Dutch midfielder, 26, completed the move from Ajax on deadline day and Vidosic believes she will bring "a lot of quality" to Brighton's midfield.

"She's played in the in the Champions League, played for Ajax this season - competing for a title. So she's used to that sort of pressure," he said ahead of Brighton's game against Crystal Palace on Sunday (14:00 GMT kick-off).

"I'm hoping that she'll play a big part in this second part of the season and in the future."

Vidosic said Noordam has completed her medical, but the club are waiting for visa clearance before she can join the squad.

Here are more key lines from Vidosic's news conference:

• He said it's "tough" in the January transfer window, but that he's "happy" with Brighton's business.

• Vidosic is hopeful Fran Kirby will return to action soon.

• The Brighton boss said it's up to other clubs to "bridge the gap" with Chelsea after they signed Naomi Girma for a world-record fee.

• Brighton's mid-week 4-1 victory over Durham will "lift the confidence" for his side.

• But Vidosic said they would not "fall into the trap of thinking they're at the bottom, this will be easy" against Crystal Palace.

Emily Salley
BBC Sport journalist

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Everton boss Brian Sorensen said Megan Finnegan is "devastated" after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament knee injury.

The Everton captain went down in the opening 10 minutes of Everton's 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup fourth round on Wednesday.

"Meg is tough but of course she's devastated. We all are," Sorensen said.

Speaking ahead of Everton's WSL game against Leicester on Sunday (14:00 GMT kick-off), Sorensen said losing a third player to an ACL injury this season was "not ideal".

"In the three years I've been here we hadn't had any [ACL injures] until this season, and that was number three so it's not ideal," he said.

"From a playing point of view, we will manage. It's definitely not ideal to lose your captain but we'll manage. It's probably more around mentality and what she means to the squad."

Here are more key lines from Sorensen's news conference:

• Sorensen said Everton were "busy" on transfer deadline, "especially after we found out that Meg was was going to be out for extended time".

• He added: "We still managed to secure one from what we lost in Meg, so we'll present that in in due time".

• The Everton boss said there is a strategic approach to signings in the making now "because now we actually have owners that put in the money and investment, and want to do right".

• The team are "working super hard" to have more goalscorers, but Sorensen also acknowledged goals "don't come easy in this league".

• He expects an "extremely tough test" against Leicester.

Ellie Thomason
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

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Manchester United boss Marc Skinner said having the world's most expensive female player Naomi Girma is brilliant for the Women's Super League, but the spending "skews the market".

"With my women's football hat on it is fantastic that we can get to this level of investment in the women's game," Skinner said.

"Chelsea are top of the league and clear and as Manchester United manager I want to be ultra competitive and try and push them as much as possible. I also understand I have been in it when there is no money in the game. I am happy the investment has come in.

"Does it widen the gap? It definitely skews the market. It's fantastic for the women's game, the growth and development in such a short period of time. But we may potentially see fallouts and how it affects everybody else.

"It has to make you try harder. That is the reality. On the pitch you have to find solutions, you have to adapt. I don't know if many players of that level have been signed in these types of window before. For us it is a challenge but all we can do and all we will ever do is just be us, focus on what we can control."

Here are other lines from his news conference before Sunday's game against Tottenham (kick-off 18:45 GMT).

• He said Manchester United "can't go and spend those type of fees" and have to "recruit smartly" and keep being "young, energetic and a little bit rebellious".

• On missing out on signing Chloe Kelly on deadline day, he said: "Chloe Kelly is an Arsenal player so doesn't affect us now. I am really happy with the forward options we have."

• Geyse remains on compassionate leave and is in "a moment of grieving" but has a meeting with the wellbeing team on Friday to discuss her return.

• He said the team performed well in Grace Clinton's absence and have deserved to keep their places, but Cinton still has a "starting role" and is "hugely important".

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Tottenham have confirmed the departure of winger Shuang Wang on a permanent transfer to Wuhan Chegu Jiangda WFC.

The China international joined Spurs in January 2024 and made 11 appearances for the club in all competitions.

She returns to her native China having not featured for Tottenham since the FA Cup final in may.

A statement from Spurs said: "We thank Shuang for her service and wish her well for the future."

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Arsenal manager Renee Slegers says Chloe Kelly will be a "great addition" to her side for the second half of the season.

After a chaotic transfer saga, Kelly joined Arsenal on loan from Manchester City on transfer deadline day.

"Chloe is an exciting attacking player and will be a great addition to our squad as we approach the second half of the season," said Slegers.

She's direct and explosive, with huge natural talent and ability. We're all looking forward to working with Chloe as an Arsenal player in the coming months."

Arsenal's director of women's football, Clare Wheetley, said she was "thrilled" to welcome academy graduate Kelly back to the club.

She said: "As an academy graduate, we've been proud to see the career she's gone on enjoy, both at club and international level.

"We're delighted she'll be representing Arsenal again as we aim to compete for honours this season."

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The January transfer window for the Women's Super League is now closed, but that doesn't mean we've had all the deals announced.

We are still waiting for official confirmation from Chelsea of their expected signing of England midfielder Keira Walsh from Barcelona.

Elsewhere, Liverpool could confirm the loan signing of Chelsea left-back Alejandra Bernabe.

We're awaiting confirmation on those, but there have been quite a few deals done today - including the last-minute announcement of Chloe Kelly's loan move to Arsenal from Manchester City.

Man City brought in Arsenal's Laura Wienroither on loan, while the Gunners signed United States defender Jenna Nighswonger on a permanent deal.

Crystal Palace signed Allysa Swaby from AC Milan and loaned Chelsea's Aniek Nowen.

Leicester City, meanwhile, recruited Iceland striker Hlin Eiriksdottir from Kristianstads.

With Crystal Palace having completed the signing of Jamaica defender Allyson Swaby from AC Milan, here are the "ins" and "outs" for Women's Super League clubs in this window.

Palace have now recruited three players on permanent deals, the same number as Manchester City and Tottenham.

The January window closes at 23:00 GMT.

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One of the big stories of transfer deadline day has been whether Manchester City and England forward Chloe Kelly could be on the move.

It looks like that could now be the case, with City having accepted a loan offer from Women's Super League rivals Arsenal for the 27-year-old.

But Kelly's future isn't certain yet. Manchester United, who have made an offer too, are not out of the race.

BBC Sport is not aware of whether Kelly herself has accepted Arsenal's offer.

On Wednesday evening, Kelly posted a message on Instagram saying she wants "to be happy again" and did not see her future at City beyond the summer.

Kelly, whose City contract expires in June and has started just once this season, is concerned about her place in the England squad with the 2025 European Championship taking place in July.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

We are four hours away from the transfer window deadline and there are still a few deals not yet completed.

The big one, of course, is Manchester United's pursuit of England forward Chloe Kelly from Manchester City.

They have made an offer - it is unclear if it is for a permanent deal or a loan - but City are still unwilling to allow Kelly to join a rival as things stand.

Elsewhere, Liverpool are set to bring in Chelsea left-back Alejandra Bernabe on loan for the rest of the season and Palace are hoping to add to their squad.

West Ham, Tottenham and Everton are not expecting to do any more business.

The transfer deadline is fast approaching and Women's Super League clubs have got until 23:00 GMT on Thursday to get any last-minute deals over the line.

With Leicester having confirmed the signing of Hlin Eiriksdottir, here's a rundown of every team's confirmed "ins" and "outs" so far.

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New Aston Villa manager Natalia Arroyo says her side need to take advantage of their support at Villa Park and make the team feel "strong and confident at home".

The 38-year-old Spaniard takes charge of her first fixture on Sunday, when they host Women's Super League leaders Chelsea at 14:30 GMT.

Speaking on Aston Villa Women's X, external, Arroyo said: "It will be great to play in the stadium. Let's see if we are really able to bring in as many people as possible.

"It always important for our team to feel strong at home. We are struggling with some games at home and we need to really build the atmosphere where the fans are having fun with the game that we are trying to do, that the players feel really safe and strong and confident at home, and that the opponents feel like it is really difficult to get points and to win and to dominate against us in our stadium."

Arroyo added that she "really loves great atmospheres" and hopes that will be the case at Villa Park.

"Lets see if we can have the crowd with us and really make our fan base stronger, it will depend on our performances," she said.

"Hopefully we can build a team that plays with passion, with energy and that after the game the fans are asking other people to come to the next game."