Courtney Sweetman-Kirk has left Liverpool Women after two years at the club.
It’s a decision that surprises few, but people will want to know where she will ply her trade next.
Liverpool’s last season was always going to be difficult but it’s unlikely many expected it to be this bad.
Sweetman-Kirk was the club’s top scorer the previous season. Her 13 goals in her debut season for the Reds included 10 in the league.
This season was less productive but she was tasked with leading a team devoid of real direction.
Her tweet explains the decision to leave was made at the beginning of the year but she wanted to respect her contract, which expired earlier this month.
The 29-year-old striker was previously at Everton after leading Doncaster to promotion the season before.
So what now for CSK?
Birmingham
The perfect team for CSK is Birmingham.
They also had a difficult 2019-2020 season but who could blame them after the max exodus, which included star striker Ellen White.
White was a prolific striker they understandably failed to replace through the transfer market.
They need a proven forward to both bang in the goals and provide that veteran leadership for the team. Sweetman-Kirk is the perfect player to do that.
She’s a danger in front of goal, whether she’s volleying them in herself or forcing the defence to focus on her.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe potential link-up play with Lucy Staniforth could also prove to be lethal.
The Blues sat just one point above Liverpool before the season was suspended due to COVID-19.
But the opportunity for CSK to come in and make an immediate impact would be invaluable.
Aston Villa
Another team in need of an experienced forward is Aston Villa.
Fresh off promotion to the WSL, they will need someone of CSK’s quality to stay up next season.
They were fantastic to watch this season, which saw almost a completely different team to the previous year.
There were nine summer signings in 2019, but they all managed to gel nicely under Gemma Davies.
Villa were agonisingly close to claiming the Women’s Championship title before the global pandemic put an end to all football games. They were six points clear at the top with only six games left.
While Aston Villa don’t have a problem scoring, with an impressive return of 39 goals (second in the division), the game is vastly different in the WSL.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe latter is faster, more physical and undeniably more talented.
CSK’s intelligence on the pitch is arguably her greatest asset and combined with her goal-scoring prowess, it makes her the ideal forward for Villa.
It’s not about just being a veteran presence either. She would excel in their current setup and would improve everyone around her as well.
Right now, it is unclear where Sweetman-Kirk will end up next season, but it will be a shame if it’s not in the WSL.
