Arsenal perform U-turn on Katie McCabe future as Gunners eye Ona Batlle | OneFootball

Arsenal Women are now expected to offer Katie McCabe a new contract after dramatically reversing course on the long-serving defender’s summer future.

According to The Telegraph, McCabe had been set to leave on a free at the end of the season before the Gunners reconsidered amid her importance to their recent form.

The 30-year-old, now 11 years into her Arsenal career and one of the squad’s leadership figures, had been linked with a move away in this latest round of WSL Transfer News, with Manchester City reportedly among the clubs keen to take advantage of her contract situation.

That shift in thinking says plenty about how highly Arsenal still value McCabe’s versatility. She has been used at left-back, further forward and in central defence this season, and that kind of reliability is not easy to replace in the Women’s Super League.

The club’s recent retention calls have already pointed in that direction, with Leah Williamson also committing her future to Arsenal and both Steph Catley and Stina Blackstenius signing new deals.

Ona Batlle remains an ambitious Arsenal target

McCabe staying would not end Arsenal’s interest in Ona Batlle. The same report says the Barcelona full-back is still expected to join the Gunners, with the Spain international able to play on either side of the defence.

Batlle would be a major addition for Arsenal Women and a familiar name to WSL watchers after her standout spell at Manchester United before returning to Barcelona in 2023. If completed, it would be one of the sharper pieces of Women’s Super League business this summer.

There is no contradiction in Arsenal pursuing both players. Batlle offers elite quality and flexibility, while McCabe brings leadership, edge and the sort of game-state know-how that matters across a long domestic and European season.

For broader context around the club’s current direction under Renee Slegers, Arsenal’s recent ambition in both the league and Europe has already been clear in their wider planning around the first team.

Arsenal’s summer planning is taking shape

The bigger picture is that Arsenal appear to be balancing refresh and continuity rather than choosing one over the other. January signing Smilla Holmberg, still only 19, fits the younger profile, but McCabe’s likely reprieve suggests experience is still carrying real weight.

There is movement elsewhere in the squad too, with Manuela Zinsberger’s departure already underlining the scale of change and uncertainty still hanging over other senior names.

McCabe herself acknowledged outside interest while away with the Republic of Ireland last month, as reported by The Telegraph. Arsenal now look ready to make sure one of their most influential players does not leave for nothing while they push on with an ambitious move for Ona Batlle.