Women’s football has gone from strength to strength across the country in recent years, writes Joe Waterman.
The lionesses have been at the heart of this development with their successes on and off the pitch.
They famously brought football home two years ago in a summer which will never be forgotten by many fans.
One key member of the women’s Euro success in 2022 was Mary Earps.
Due to the fact that Earps kept four clean sheets along the way in the lead up to that famous night at Wembley, her popularity spiked significantly.
Twelves months later, Earps won the 2023 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.
She also received the Golden Glove award for her stellar performance at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
However, all these accolades have come with a price for Manchester United fans.
Upon the expiration of her contract at the end of June, it was formally announced that Earps would be joining Paris St-Germain on a free transfer.
It was a move which saw Earps become the highest paid goalkeeper in the world.
The news has shaken things up at the Leigh Sports Village where Earps has undoubtedly played a crucial role since her move back in 2019.
Earps has played 125 times for Manchester United after becoming a regular addition in the squad.
United had a completely underwhelming campaign last season.
An FA Cup triumph over Tottenham glossed over a disappointing league campaign saw United finished in fifth place and a staggering 20 points behind the champions Chelsea.
This was the lowest finish United have had since their promotion to the WSL back in 2019.
In a farewell statement posted by Earps across social media, the goalkeeper alluded to the idea that Manchester United are undergoing a period of transition and she did not feel as though the club’s ambitions aligned with her own.
It is not what Manchester United fans wanted to be hearing from one of their best players according to the responses on social media.
Earps has not been the only high-profile player leaving the club this summer upon her contract expiry.
Katie Zelem and Lucia Garcia have also departed the club.
The future looms ominously for Manchester United as they simply cannot afford another dull campaign.
The fans’ fears have only been increased by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s comments.
Ratcliffe, who in February 2024 became a 27.7% stakeholder in Manchester United, dismissed the idea that the women’s team would be prioritised with regards to support and more importantly investment.
This has called for concerns amongst the loyal United fanbase who are crying out for change in order to be able to successfully compete with their rivals.
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