Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly reportedly offered to Manchester United as left-back option
Interest in Lewis-Skelly Amid Arsenal’s Squad Decisions
Myles Lewis-Skelly, a 19-year-old midfielder from Arsenal, has reportedly been offered to Manchester United as a potential left-back solution. Chelsea has also been made aware of the player’s availability. This development follows Arsenal’s acquisition of Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle for £75m, a move that has prompted Arsenal to consider player sales.
Despite the interest from other clubs, Lewis-Skelly is reportedly focused on remaining at Arsenal and securing a place in Mikel Arteta’s first-team plans for the upcoming season. The academy graduate signed a long-term contract with Arsenal in the summer of 2025 and has been with the club since he was eight years old. Arsenal is not actively marketing the player for sale, but there is an acknowledgment that departures may be necessary before the transfer window closes.
Lewis-Skelly made 36 appearances in all competitions during the 2025-26 season, including five league starts. His prospective transfer fee is estimated to be around £45m. He has also been capped six times by England.
Manchester United and Chelsea’s Defensive Needs
Manchester United is currently evaluating a potential move for Lewis-Skelly. The club has already made significant signings this summer, including Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £35m and Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £48m plus £2m in add-ons. While Newcastle’s Lewis Hall remains a primary target for United, the departure of key players from Newcastle has made the club reluctant to let more players leave.
Other potential left-back options for United include RB Leipzig’s David Raum, who is 28 years old. Meanwhile, Mason Mount, a 27-year-old midfielder for United, missed recent training sessions due to a foot injury sustained in a 1-1 draw against Paris Saint-Germain.
Chelsea, another club reportedly interested in Lewis-Skelly, has been active in the transfer market, spending over £300m on new signings. They have brought in Maxence Lacroix and Marco Palestra to strengthen their central and right defence, respectively. Morgan Rogers became their record signing at a cost of £117m. Chelsea has a defensive gap on the left side after Marc Cucurella’s £52m transfer to Real Madrid. Jorrel Hato, 20, who played for the Netherlands at the World Cup, served as Cucurella’s deputy at left-back.
Lewis-Skelly’s Role at Arsenal
Lewis-Skelly’s versatility allows him to play both in midfield and at left-back. He initially broke into the first team as a left-back during the 2024-25 season. Last season, he secured a starting position in his preferred central midfield role, notably performing well during Arsenal’s title-winning run-in, which included a start in the Champions League Final against Paris Saint-Germain.
The arrival of Bruno Guimarães, alongside Declan Rice, has intensified competition in Arsenal’s midfield. The club also has Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi as options. Lewis-Skelly’s future at Arsenal presents a dilemma, as selling an academy graduate could provide significant funds for the club, which aims to be ambitious in the transfer market.
Despite the competition, there are arguments for Arsenal to retain Lewis-Skelly, particularly given the heavy workload of key midfielder Declan Rice. Rice, 27, played in almost all Premier League, Champions League, and Carabao Cup matches between January 1 and the end of the season. His extensive playing time led to him experiencing pain during the World Cup, suggesting a need for rotation, which could open opportunities for Lewis-Skelly.
Arsenal’s record transfer sale remains Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s £35m move to Liverpool in 2017. The club’s need to address other areas and potentially improve their transfer sales record adds to the complexity of decisions regarding players like Lewis-Skelly. Important decisions are expected to be made this summer to further elevate the team’s performance.
United’s next friendly before the season starts is against Milan in Wroclaw on Saturday.
Source: theguardian.com
As NewsUK's Senior Football Correspondent, Thomas Beckwith reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He reported on three World Cups for a national news agency. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Thomas lives in Sheffield, where he watches lower-league football most weekends. “Football writing is about the decisions, not just the result.”
