Chelsea eye Catarina Macario and Ashley Lawrence on free transfers as replacements for key duo | OneFootball

The North American duo are seen as frontrunners to replace Pernille Harder and Magdalena Eriksson, who are set to leave Kingsmeadow for Bayern Munich in the summer.

Macario, 23, has long been in talks with manager Emma Hayes over a move to west London once her contract expires this summer. She is currently recovering from knee surgery but is hoping to be ready for the start of next season.

Barcelona and Bayern Munich will compete with Chelsea for Lawrence, 27, who is also available on a free transfer.

Their arrivals would cover the loss of the club captain Eriksson and women’s record signing Harder on free transfers after they privately communicated to some of the squad that they will leave for Germany in the summer.

Hayes and Paul Green, the club’s assistant manager, have had significant input and support from Chelsea’s new owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali.

They have been less hands-on compared to the men’s side, with the women’s team in better shape when they arrived, but equally as engaged and have attended a host of matches this season.

The Blues have already made two signings ahead of the summer. They recently announced the arrival of 22-year-old midfielder Sjoeke Nusken from Eintracht Frankfurt on a three-year deal.