Man City manager Gareth Taylor believes the increase in major transfer deals across the WSL is a sign of things to come.
Taylor, 49, didn't make any additions to his squad before the deadline on Tuesday evening, but City were the exception to the rule with a flurry of activity across the league. Beth England moved to Tottenham for a domestic record transfer from Chelsea, while Arsenal tried to sign Alessia Russo for a world record fee from City's local rivals Man Utd, only for two bids to be rejected.
City did loan out Ruby Mace to Leicester, but had an otherwise quiet window, unlike much of the division. Ahead of a trip to the Foxes this week, Taylor believes the trading activity not only highlighted growth in the women's game, but that big spending would continue when the market re-opens in the summer.
"I'm not surprised (at the transfer window) to be honest," said Taylor. "I've said this for a long time, but the women's game is changing daily, right in front of our eyes. I've seen such a huge difference on a lot of things.
"If you go back only 12 months to the last January window, I can't remember many clubs doing much business. We took Julie Blakstad at that point but that was because we were really struggling for players and had an injury crisis.
"It (January) shows and probably proves that this summer is going to be a big one as well. I think there is going to be a lot of activity when that window opens again.
"I think there will be a lot of money changing hands. And again, that is something that before has been scarcely seen in the women's game."
City are five points off table-toppers Chelsea and Man Utd going into Saturday's clash with Leicester, knowing there is little room for error in the second half of their season. Taylor was also full of praise for England winger Chloe Kelly, who has hit form since the winter break.
Memorably Kelly scored the Euro 2022 final winner last summer only months after coming back from a serious ACL injury and Taylor says it, understandably, has taken her time to find her best football again. But the City boss now feels she is back at the top of her game as the season approaches a critical point.
"I'm really pleased to see her (Kelly) in this rich vein of training really well and contributing," added Taylor. She was looking like she really enjoyed herself last Sunday.
"There is a decent level of competition there, Hayley Rasso's contributing as well, with Julie Blakstad on the other side and Lauren Hemp. I think it's really healthy competition for the players to have.
"With Chloe we have to take into account that she missed the whole of last season. When you don't get the number of games under the belt that unfortunately the women's game doesn't always give you, it's so difficult to get any kind of rhythm.
"This has been a nice period for us because it's the first time that we've had a free week since the New Year."
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