Ona Batlle set for Barcelona switch

Manchester United are set to lose influential defender Ona Batlle to Barcelona but have hope of retaining Alessia Russo.

According to various reports, Spanish and Catalan international Batlle – who played for Barça’s youth team – is set to return to the club this summer.

The 23-year-old has been one of the stand-out players for Marc Skinner’s team this year in a season that has seen them clinch Champions League football for the first time and reach the FA Cup final while still having a (slim) chance of winning the WSL.

Batlle has been a big part of that having made nine assists in eight league appearances this season.

Despite that setback, there is a growing confidence that the club will be able to hold on to forward Alessia Russo.

The England international was subject to a world-record transfer bid from Arsenal in January that was turned down by United. 

While the Gunners are among the clubs still keen on Russo, the player is seen as more likely to stay than previously with journalist Rich Laverty that a four-year deal is currently on the table.

Batlle and Russo will almost certainly be featuring in Manchester United’s last game of the season away to Liverpool knowing that a win and a very unlikely mistake by Chelsea would crown them champions.