Major Man United appointment could spell good news for women's team after nightmare week

Though Mary Earps' Manchester United goodbye message totaled 370 words, perhaps the biggest factor behind her decision to leave the club can be gleaned from just one: 'Transition'.

Those 10 measly characters, deployed by Earps to describe the current state of play at Leigh Sports Village, rather concisely explain why one of the game's biggest stars feels the best thing for her career is to seek pastures new this summer. The 31-year-old's departure did not, admittedly, come as much of a surprise.

Hers is an exit almost 12 months in the making, the portent of which can be traced back to Arsenal's failed world-record bid for her services last September. Still, though, in conjunction with a number of other happenings at United over the past few weeks, confirmation of Earps' leaving has been viewed in some quarters as an ominous indicator of the Reds' direction of travel.

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"It's a decision l've gone backwards and forwards on for some time, and is not one I've made lightly," the England No. 1 wrote on social media on Saturday. "The club is about to undergo a period of transition, and unfortunately I don't feel it aligns with the timing of where I'm at in my career, therefore I think now is the right time to make a change and embark on a new challenge."

That new challenge is set to take Earps to the French capital, where she will become the highest-paid women's goalkeeper in the world for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). It is understood, however, United's offer of a new deal matched Earps' expectations and therefore her decision to leave the club