13 December 2023 , 11:40
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Marc Skinner remains hopeful England No.1 Mary Earps will sign a new contract with Manchester United.
The United manager has revealed the club are still negotiating with Earps, who last season helped her side to a first FA Cup final and finish as WSL runners-up.
But last summer brought increased speculation that Earps could follow England colleague Alessia Russo in making a move to North London, with the England stopper thought to be a major transfer target for the title-chasing Arsenal. The Lionesses star eventually stayed put, however her contract with the Red Devils expires at the end of this season.
United have already turned down a bid for Earps, but will need to get her to agree to a new deal to avoid losing her for free, as they did with Russo. Although Skinner indicated an agreement wasn't particularly close, the manager remains positive that she will stay at Old Trafford.
"The club are working through with Mary (Earps) on what the deal looks like," said Skinner. "I sit here hopeful. I think the talks are exactly where it was.
Earps reacts to FIFA Best nomination and on season so far with Man Utd
"It’s with the club to continue with that. I can’t be any more clear that I want Mary to stay at this club.
"She’s a huge part of what I want to do and build here but we’ll continue to have those conversations. I haven’t really got an update yet."
Earps is the favourite to lift the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2023 trophy, with the ceremony taking place on Tuesday night in Manchester. She has also been nominated for FIFA Best Goalkeeper award that she claimed last year.
The England goalkeeper has had an outstanding calendar year, helping the Lionesses reach the Women's World Cup final in August before losing 1-0 to Spain.
United next face Liverpool in the WSL, hoping to close the gap on title rivals Arsenal and Chelsea. Melvine Malard starred their recent 4-0 win over Tottenham which put them back in the race and Skinner revealed he is keen on keeping the on-loan Lyon forward permanently.
Marc Skinner (right) is hopeful of retaining Mary Earps' (centre) services (Photo by Charlotte Tattersall - MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images)"It's something we engaged in when we signed the initial loan," Skinner explained. "You want to make sure a player fits with not only the team, but within the country – I think it was important for Mel (Malard) to settle here.
"She's settled brilliantly and you can see her character in everything she does. Right now she's performing excellently and is a great member of what we're trying to do. She adds a lot of quality at a great age.
"It's definitely something the way she's performing that we look to extend her beyond this current deal."