Kane's class - but England need new No.9 to lead World Cup bid

It's too easy for Ramirez! Clinical Chelsea look ominous

England's biggest winners & losers from the Nations League

How it feels to beat Lionel Messi

The best Premier League loanees of the season so far

Szoboszlai in tears as Netherlands vs Hungary is halted

Kroos opens door to Real Madrid return 

Why Ronaldo has been released from the Portugal squad

Rashford branded a 'clown' after attending New York Knicks game

Ronaldo sets clear timeline for retirement

Barcelona icon Pique weighs in on Ronaldo & Messi GOAT debate

Neymar move ruled out as Brazilian club president mocks his injury struggles

Real Madrid 'prioritised shirt sales' with Mbappe signing

Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Blindkilde Brown joined City in January</li><li>City paid £200,000 ($254,000) fee</li><li>Ward left 'gutted' by departure</li></ul>

'Please don't do this' - Aston Villa boss Carla Ward reveals desperate response to Man City's Laura Blindkilde Brown transfer approach after call from Gareth Taylor

Women's Champions League

Hammarby IF

Manchester City Women

WSL Cup

Tottenham Hotspur Women

Aston Villa Women

Villa sold Blindkilde Brown to City in January for a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/man-city-laura-blindkilde-brown-signing-aston-villa-emma-hayes-chelsea-wsl-title-race/blt3f10b15dbde43581#cs9feb9919f03e73c0" target="_blank">massive fee that approached the British transfer record of £250,000 ($317,000)</a>, following a rapid rise at the club. She racked up over 50 appearances for the club and was also voted their Player of the Year for the past two seasons, and Ward has revealed that she fought desperately to keep her in the Midlands.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Ward said on the <a href="https://twitter.com/BootsBallsBras_/status/1762893978347675876" target="_blank">Boots, Balls and Bras podcast</a>: "Gareth rang me, I've got a good relationship with him, and he said: 'Look, we're a couple of midfielders down' and I said 'don't even think about it'. He said: 'Look, we're going to be coming in for Laura. I wanted to give you a heads-up out of respect, we have a really good relationship'. My exact words were: 'Please don't do this because it will hurt us'."It happened quite quickly, I rang Lee straight away, our director of football, and said: 'We can't allow this to happen'. I must admit, I was quite vocal about it, I was gutted, it was something I really didn't want to happen, we didn't need it to happen, but sometimes things are completely out of your control."

WHAT CARLA WARD SAID

Blindkilde Brown is an England Under 21 international and it seems only a matter of time before she is playing for the Lionesses. She is just 20 and given the fee attached to her, and her previous form, one has to expect that she will soon make the jump to senior international football.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

City play Everton on Saturday. Villa, by comparison, face Liverpool. Villa are eighth in the Women's Super League, while City are second, level on points with leaders Chelsea but behind them on goal difference.

WHAT NEXT?

'Please don't do this' - Aston Villa boss Carla Ward reveals desperate response to Man City's Laura Blindkilde Brown transfer approach after call from Gareth Taylor | Goal.com

Aston Villa manager Carla Ward has revealed that she begged Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor not to buy Laura Blindkilde Brown. 

&apos;Please don&apos;t do this&apos; - Aston Villa boss Carla Ward reveals desperate response to Man City&apos;s Laura Blindkilde Brown transfer approach after call from Gareth Taylor