Nobody expected this situation in Women's Barça. Just hours before the market closes next Friday, January 31, two requests to leave have arrived at the offices. These are not just any players. We are talking about players of the caliber of Ingrid Engen and Keira Walsh, who have asked to leave immediately and have even submitted firm proposals.
Mundo Deportivo has discovered that both Ingrid Engen and Keira Walsh, whose contracts end next June 30, want to leave now. The Norwegian has submitted an offer to move to the great rival for the Champions League, Lyon, and the Englishwoman another to go to Chelsea. They don't accept their secondary role in Women's Barça and intend to force their departure immediately.
However, Barça's reply has been forceful, according to the aforementioned information. It considers the proposals submitted by Ingrid Engen and Keira Walsh insufficient, having been rejected immediately. The doors haven't been closed for them to leave, making it clear that they could leave if they come with higher offers in the economic aspect.
What Women's Barça doesn't want is to strengthen two direct rivals for the Champions League in the last hours of the deadline. If one or both end up leaving, the plan is to go to the market to try to reinforce these departures. The situation is complicated, with negotiations to renew both contracts also completely stalled.
Both Engen and Walsh want to leave now, but they are clear that if this is not possible, they will leave for free at the end of the season. At Barça, they know the situation is complicated, but besides not wanting to strengthen direct rivals, it is considered that with those figures they could not replace them in the market.
Double surprise farewell in Women's Barça: Goodbye to Ingrid Engen and Keira Walsh?
At Barça, they hope to improve the situation in the coming hours. It is a race against time, and they didn't expect Ingrid Engen and Keira Walsh to ask to leave already. The figures are insufficient, and the plan is clear: if they don't present improved proposals, they will stay. There is a risk that they will leave for free at the end of the season, but they don't want to weaken the team in the midst of the fight for the Champions League.
Everyone takes it for granted that Walsh will leave for free back to England when her contract ends... Meanwhile, they hope to redirect Ingrid Engen's situation if she ends up staying.