Chelsea boss Emma Hayes hails ‘gifted’ Germany star Nusken and comments on Harder and Eriksson rumours
EMMA HAYES insists transfer rumours concerning Pernille Harder and Magda Eriksson will not distract their efforts for the rest of this term.
The Blues manager reckons transfer rumour debate within the women’s game is not a bad thing for the sport.
Hayes was speaking hours after Chelsea announced the signing of Sjoeke Nusken, 22, from Eintracht Frankfurt earlier today.
The Germany midfielder, who made 92 appearances in three years for her current club, will join on July 1 on a three-year deal.
And the Blues are also set to sign Lyon and USA midfield ace Catarina Macario according to The Athletic.
Nusken’s signing comes a week after reports claiming Harder, 30, and Eriksson, 29, are poised to join Bayern Munich as free agents this summer.
And Hayes seems unfazed by transfer rumours concerning the duo.
The Blues gaffer, whose side plays West Ham on Wednesday , said: “I don’t think it’s a bad thing that we’re talking about players, their futures, whether it’s here, or elsewhere.
“That’s part of the business. The women’s game needs it so we don’t mind it.
“But I’m never going to comment on rumours because we could probably bring out 50 of them a day and chat about them.”
On whether transfer chatter has been disruptive for the duo, Hayes added: “We just carry on with business as usual.
“They’re great people and great professionals.
“We have worked together long enough to know that none of us get influenced by things that are happening on the outside.”
Nusken’s switch will see her link up with Germany compatriots Ann-Katrin Berger and Melanie Leupolz.
Hayes added: “We’ve been tracking Sjoeke for about three years.
“She has the profile we’ve been looking for and she’s wonderfully gifted.
“She can play as the centre-back but we haven’t brought her in for that. We’ve been watching her for a long time.
“She’s got pretty much everything in the middle of a pitch. She can progress the ball up the field.”
Should Chelsea win two of their last three games this term, and Man United draw with Man City on Sunday, they could become champions this weekend.
However Paul Konchesky’s Irons, who are eighth, hope to end their nine-game winless run.
Their last victory in the league was back in December against Tottenham.
And the team are yet to beat Hayes’ side in the league.
The West Ham boss said: “As much as we need to worry about them (Chelsea), we have to worry about ourselves and trying to get points on the board.
“We’ve had a meeting as a group about what we want to do to make sure we pick up points in the final three games.”