Other Women’s Super League clubs need to follow Chelsea’s example and invest in their teams, according to former England midfielder Rachel Yankey.

The league leaders spent more than £1m in the January transfer window, adding USA defender Naomi Girma and England midfielder Keira Walsh to Sonia Bompastor’s squad.

“[Chelsea] are setting the standard,” said Yankey on the BBC’s Women’s Football Show. “If you’re Sonia Bompastor you must be rubbing your hands together because you’re building a team [and] someone’s actually investing.

“The club are believing in your vision and getting you the players that you want and [are] prepared to put money behind it. That sets the standard for the league and it’s for other teams to follow.

“Other clubs need to look at Chelsea and actually invest in the women’s team and support the women’s team… but the proof will be in the pudding because you have to win the Champions League when you get all these big players so the pressure is on.”

For more analysis watch the Women’s Football Show, where you can catch all the highlights from the weekend’s six matches.