England and Manchester City midfielder Jill Scott is understood to be close to securing a loan move away from the club in the January transfer window for the rest of the season, in a bid to boost her chances of selection for this summer’s European Championship.
Aston Villa are said to be the leading contenders to sign Scott, who is wanted by several WSL clubs, before January 28’s WSL deadline, but talks are ongoing.
Sources say the 34-year-old wants to start regular games in the Women’s Super League in order to increase the likelihood of her being selected for the Lionesses squad for this summer’s Women’s Euros, which are being staged in England in July.
Scott has been with Manchester City for more than eight years but spent the second half of last season on loan at Everton, similarly seeking more first-team starts. Sources have described the relationship between Scott and Manchester City as very good and that all parties want to find the best option for the central midfielder.
Scott is one of the sport’s best-known figures and has played 153 times for her country, as well as representing Great Britain at two Olympic Games. She has helped England reach the semi-finals of three consecutive major tournaments and is one of the nation’s most experienced professional women’s players.
Best-known for playing in midfield, she was regularly starting as a stand-in centre-back for Manchester City earlier this term, in the absence of injured skipper Steph Houghton, but the latter has now returned to full fitness.
After starting her career with her hometown club Sunderland, Scott spent seven years with Everton before joining Manchester City when the club were forming a professional side for the first time in 2018. She has gone on to help the club win three FA Cups, three Continental Tyres League Cups and the 2016 league title.
Her move would be one of the highest-profile deals to go through in the WSL transfer window, in a month which has so far seen the biggest deals mainly involve stars signing new contracts.
This month Manchester City have given new deals to England trio Houghton, Lauren Hemp and Esme Morgan, while their fellow Lionesses star Leah Williamson has agreed an extended stay with Arsenal.
