Arsenal's loan bid for Chloe Kelly has been accepted by Manchester City on Deadline Day - but Manchester United have not given up on trying to sign her.
United are expected to offer improved terms before Thursday's 11pm deadline for Women's Super League teams in the hopes they can convince City to let Kelly make the move across Manchester.
City have so far been unwilling to let Kelly join United but have accepted Arsenal's offer.
Kelly's preference is to stay in Manchester, which is why she turned down the chance to sign for Brighton earlier in this window.
Marc Skinner's side have been working on both loan and permanent deals for Kelly on Deadline Day.
If Kelly were to join Arsenal on loan until the end of the season, it would still leave United able to sign Kelly on a free transfer in the summer when her deal runs out.
Kelly had been disappointed she had not been able to leave City this month - and released a strongly-worded post on social media on Wednesday about her future.
Sky Sports News understands City had only received one suitable bid for Kelly before the statement and that had been with her to consider ahead of the window closing.
Sky Sports News reached out to Kelly on Wednesday after she said on Instagram she was "disappointed" that "who she can and cannot join" was "being dictated" to her. That followed a breakdown in relations between the club and her management after meetings.
It is understood the club told her she could not be replaced this month, however they then signed Brazil international Kerolin Nicoli from North Carolina Courage. Kelly felt the club were holding onto her as a matter of pride.
Kelly's contract with City ends in four months and England manager Sarina Wiegman is believed to be keen for her to get regular game time ahead of the Euros this summer. Kelly still considers herself a "top-three" player.
Kelly said in her statement on Wednesday: "For a long time, I've tried to work through professional challenges privately, not commenting publicly, but with my situation increasingly being debated in the public domain, I feel it's time to be open and transparent and you heard it from my perspective.
"A key lesson I have learned in my life is that, while I can't control someone's negative behaviour towards me, I can control how long I am prepared to tolerate it. From day one, I've felt so much love from my team-mates and the fans.
"With my contract expiring in June, I've accepted my future is not at this club beyond then. With the Euros fast approaching, this summer is a huge one and I want to be in a position to give it my best shot to represent my country."
Man City have signed defender Laura Wienroither on loan from Arsenal until the end of the season.
A deal for the 26-year-old Austria international was announced less than an hour before the Women's Super League January transfer window closed on Thursday evening.
Wienroither made her Arsenal debut against Manchester United in January 2022 and scored one goal after joining the club from Hoffenheim.
Wienroither said: "I'm really happy to be here. I'm relieved everything's done now and I'm grateful for the opportunity to work with people who trust and believe in me. I just hope I can give the trust back.
"I'm really excited to get started and can't wait to meet the team. When you have the chance to sign for a big club like City, I don't think you have to think a lot about it - at least I didn't."
Sky Sports' Laura Hunter:
The curious case of Chloe Kelly. England's Euro 2022 final saviour and so often in recent years a match-winner for Manchester City too. But something has gone awry this season and the writing has been on the wall for some time.
Gareth Taylor has been questioned about Kelly's lack of minutes - only 165 in the WSL - on numerous occasions and remained coy, while choosing not to add any fuel to the transfer speculation fire. The latter is fair enough but the manager has never really addressed why Kelly hasn't been playing.
This is a winger that formed one third of the most fearsome attacking trio in the WSL last term - alongside Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp - scoring and assisting for fun as City mounted a serious title challenge. Kelly registered 10 goal contributions and generated 51 chances, the second-best creative threat behind Man Utd's Katie Zelem.
Clearly her relationship with Taylor has reached an impasse but Kelly has so much to offer and is desperate to prove her worth to Sarina Wiegman before the England boss makes her squad selection for this summer's Euros. At 27, she's only just entering her peak years, not beyond them.
If Man City can't make use of her very many talents, they should - for an acceptable price - offer her to a club that can.
