Manchester City forward Chloe Kelly has released an emotional statement in an attempt to exit the club before the WSL transfer window shuts at 11pm on Thursday.

The England forward, who has started only one WSL game for City this season, says her situation is negatively impacting her mental wellbeing, adding it is “not right” as she wants “to be happy again”.

Sky Sports News understands Manchester City are open to letting Kelly leave before the transfer window closes and an offer, deemed acceptable by the club, has been made for the player to consider.

There are reports Manchester United are interested in a loan deal for the 27-year-old, whose City contract expires in June.

Kelly was England’s hero at Euro 2022 as she scored the winning goal against Germany in the final at Wembley to fire the Lionesses to their first major honour.

But with her game time limited at City this season, Kelly wants to ensure she is part of Sarina Wiegman’s Euro 2025 squad as England look to defend their title this summer in Switzerland.

Kelly posted on Instagram saying: “A message from me. 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.”

Kelly added: “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. Something which has always filled me with such pride and it is a true honour to do so.

“However, to be dictated whom I can and can’t join with only four months left of the football season is having a huge impact on not only my career but my mental wellbeing. The situation has dragged on for too long, it’s disappointing and not right.

“I’m at a pivotal point in my life and my career is so important to me, and [it] is very disappointing that the sport we love can make you feel this way, especially after there’s been so much growth in our sport.

“This is why I’m posting this, because I want to make you all aware that we as players dedicate our lives to our sport and our clubs but our dreams can be crushed while we live in silence.

“I am human and I have and will give everything to the game that I love. Ultimately, I just want to be happy again.”

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Manchester City snuck through to the play-off phase of the Champions League after coming from behind to beat Club Brugge 3-1 and finish 22nd of the 24 teams to secure qualification.

Pep Guardiola called for “something special” ahead of the game and what he got – first half at least – was something quite shocking, as City failed to muster any drive, intensity or shots on target, before getting stung on the break by Raphael Onyedika.

City knew ahead of time – having surrendered a 2-0 lead at PSG to lose 4-2 last week – that anything other than a win would consign them to an early exit from the competition they won just 18 months ago, but even that could not summon the urgency necessary to hurt Brugge.

Luckily for Guardiola, all that changed after the break when Savinho came on, providing more direct threat and creating gaps, allowing Mateo Kovacic to drive through the heart of midfield and sweep home the leveller.

Everything became a bit more straightforward thereafter as Josko Gvardiol forced young defender Joel Ordanez to turn through his own net before Savinho scored a well-worked third to ease any lingering nerves with 13 minutes to go.

Manchester City finishing 22nd – with only three wins from eight games – means they are now eyeing up a play-off against either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.

More to follow…

When are the knock-out draws?

To determine who plays who in the knockout rounds, there will be two draws after the league phase.

The first draw on Friday January 31 at 11am will determine which of the two options each team will get in the knockout playoff. For example, a team finishing 13th will find out whether they are playing against the team finishing 19th or 20th.

Seeded teams (9th-16th) will have the second leg at home and those play-off round matches take place on February 11/12 and February 18/19.

Teams seeded from first to eighth will have to wait until Friday February 21 to find out their opponents.

That draw will then determine who they face in the round of 16, and ultimately map out their full path to the final.

When are the 2024/25 Champions League knockout fixtures?

• Round of 16: March 4/5 and March 11/12, 2025
• Quarter-finals: April 8/9 and April 15/16, 2025
• Semi-finals: April 29/30 and May 6/7, 2025
• Final: May 31, 2025

What’s coming up for Man City?