Legend warns Chelsea against 'disrespectful' Sam Kerr offer as 'life-changing money' lures superstars to America

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has warned Chelsea not to table Sam Kerr "a disrespectful" one-year deal, with lucrative contracts from a rival league beginning to lure Women's Super League stars away.

The Australian superstar striker has yet to commit to any team beyond this season, despite being one of the strongest and most experienced players in the English competition.

Kerr hasn't played in the WSL this month as she's with Australia at the Women's Asian Cup. Still, even when in England, Chelsea has limited her to restricted minutes since returning from a long injury layoff.

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An ACL tear sidelined her for two years and the Super League heavyweights have been cautious with her return. However, there is no denying that she still has what it takes to be a game changer.

The 32-year-old has shown her X-factor on countless occasions with the national team and in the past at Chelsea, yet it is unclear what her future at the club looks like.

Coach Sonia Bompastor has made it clear that she is looking to develop the next generation of stars and give them a chance to represent the Chelsea badge in the near future, via a regeneration similar to the men's team.

Wright hopes that does not mean she will sacrifice Kerr.

"Are they offering her a deal? I know there'll be a queue for her, but are they doing another one of those situations where (they say) 'Sam Kerr, we will offer you a year or an option'," Wright said on the Crossways podcast.

"I think that would be quite disrespectful to her, especially when she is coming back from that injury.

"She is unbelievable, one of the best in the world - to not give her that kind of contract where she can say, 'Right, I can ease myself into it', instead of trying to give her maybe another year then she's rushing to try and do stuff.

"I think they should sign her up and on a good deal, not a (one) year."

"She should stay," former England Lionesses captain and Crossways co-host Steph Houghton replied.

"I think it would be stupid if she didn't stay from a Chelsea point of view, because what she's done for however many seasons in the WSL."

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Wright, a vocal supporter of the women's game in England, recognised that players of Kerr's calibre will always find a longer deal with a rival team due to "how good they are".

But it is the potential domino effect that could come if Chelsea is not to secure Kerr on a long-term deal that could rock the success of the WSL club in the future.

Kerr's club teammate Catarina Macario is reportedly set to sign a deal with National Women's Soccer League club San Diego Wave that is worth over $11m AUD over five years - the largest contract of any player in the history of the women's game.

Trinity Rodman is currently the highest-paid player in the NWSL, inking a three-year extension with the Washington Spirit worth $2.8m AUD per season.

Those types of deals have Wright on edge about the future of the WSL.

"Macario has gone to the NWSL on an unbelievable contract. It is amazing, a great contract," he said.

"If there are contracts like that being handed out, there is no way that's not going to turn the heads of a WSL player."

Houghton replied: "It's life-changing money, isn't it.

"It would be a shame for the WSL if a player like Sam Kerr, who has scored that many goals and been the icon for some many years, did goal to a different league."

Wright continued: "There is not one female player in the world, I don't care where she is, even if she's at my club, if she gets an offer like that, I am going there and I'm going to make sure that she goes and gets that contract.

"It is no different to the men's game. (All rival leagues) would do anything they could to come to their league to be how the Premier League is. The NWSL are doing the only thing they can to try and get their league to another level. You can't blame them for that.

"I know Sam Kerr at 32, she is obviously a lot older than Macario, but if I am a NWSL owner and I have the capability and money to bring Sam Kerr over, I would bring her."

Kerr's focus in the short-term will be assisting the Matildas to defeat Japan and lift the Asian Cup trophy on Saturday evening, with the final kicking off at 8pm AEDT.

As for her club team, Chelsea will face the London City Lionesses on Saturday at 11pm (AEDT).