Shaw on Man City’s radar

National striker Khadija Shaw could be reaching the end of her tenure in France as she is reportedly on the radar of English Women's Super League (WSL) club Manchester City.

According to Washington Post football writer Steven Goff, Manchester City are closing in on the 24-year-old Shaw, who has two months remaining on her two-year deal with French club Bordeaux which she signed before the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2019.

Having scored 10 goals in her first season with Bordeaux, Shaw has already surpassed her debut season total and is currently the joint league-leading goalscorer alongside Paris Saint-Germain's Marie Antoinette Katoto with 20 goals. She has had six multi-goal games this season, including three hat-tricks. In addition to Shaw's goalscoring exploits this year, she was named the league's player of the month for both October and January this season.

National women's coach Hubert Busby Jr, in an interview in February, said previously that guaranteed playing time must be a factor in Shaw's next destination despite increased interest. Women's football correspondent Amee Ruszkai, who also reported on the potential Shaw transfer in an article for Goal.com, said that Shaw would improve the City attack and would add depth to the striker position, as England international Ellen White is the team's only established number nine.

GOALSCORING BURDEN

"Shaw would bring added depth in this area as a striker to share the goalscoring burden with White, but also a completely different option for head coach Gareth Taylor," Ruszkai said. "The signing of Shaw, which is not yet finalised but is near, would bolster City with one of the most exciting strikers in the world right now."

With three games remaining in the season, Bordeaux are in third place in the table with 41 points and are in position to qualify for next season's Women's Champions League as they are 13 points ahead of nearest challenger Paris FC, although they have played two games fewer than Bordeaux. Manchester City are currently in second place in the WSL with 49 points, two points adrift of leaders Chelsea with two matches left to play.

Shaw was recently ranked 31st among ESPN FC's top women's footballer's in the game currently, placing higher than American Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Brazil's Marta.

Bordeaux will hope to move one step closer towards Champions League qualification when they face Montpelier on May 8.