You wanted a statement of intent? Well, The Guardian are reporting that Newcastle United Women are lining up a move for Manchester United top scorer Nikita Parris.
Fresh from their Sela Cup win over AC Milan on Saturday, it’s claimed Wor Lasses believe Paris – who was named Football Writers’ Association’s Women’s footballer of the year in 2019 – could help fire them to the Super League after back-to-back promotions sees us head into the the Championship this coming season.
A snippet from The Guardian’s piece said: ‘Newcastle are interested in signing the England striker Nikita Parris from the Women’s Super League club Manchester United. The newly promoted Women’s Championship side are hoping to sign a striker to boost their chances of reaching the WSL, and they are targeting the 71‑cap Lioness.
A transfer fee would be required if Newcastle were to sign her, after Manchester United triggered a one‑year extension to the 30‑year‑old’s contract until 2025 this summer by exercising an option in her deal.
Newcastle are newcomers to the Championship but are ambitious and eager to reach the top tier of the women’s pyramid. They believe that signing a goalscorer of Parris’s pedigree could be key to helping them chase what would be a third successive promotion after their title‑winning seasons in tier four in 2022-23 and in tier three last season.’
Newcastle United target Nikita Parris signing in push to reach WSL https://t.co/fIjIwpIUAu
— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) August 11, 2024
Bringing in Parris would be a huge statement of intent alongside new recruit Demi Stokes; the former Man City star who played with Parris as the Three Lions won the European Championships in 2022.
As we know, what is in the papers can go either way and there’s no guarantee this comes to fruition, but the simple fact that this is being reported in a National newspaper says a lot about the ambition of NUFC Women.
Becky Langley after Saturday’s Sela Cup win over AC Milan was asked if there were going to be any more arrivals at the Club and was quite coy with her reply. Not ruling it out for sure but as with all Managers asked that question not giving anything away either.
Her aim is simple. She wants promotion to The Super League. It’s not about consolidation in The Championship for her it’s about winning. When asked about promotion and being reminded that no-one has ever won three back-to-back promotions she was also quite clear.
She believes there’s no reason not to aim for the ‘Sky.’ It is the ultimate aim and one she and the whole Club are targeting. An arrival of the likes of Parris would indeed be a statement of intent. And as Becky is famous for saying. “If you believe you can achieve it then why not!”
