Myles Lewis-Skelly's remarkable rise at Arsenal has caught the attention of Premier League rivals, with both Chelsea and Manchester United reportedly among the clubs offered the chance to sign the teenager this summer, according to Standard Sport.
The 19-year-old's transformation over the past few months has been striking. As recently as April, Lewis-Skelly had made only one Premier League start this season, appearing to have slipped down Mikel Arteta's pecking order at left-back behind Piero Hincapie and Riccardo Calafiori. Within two months, however, he had established himself as a regular starter in midfield, helped Arsenal secure their first Premier League title in over two decades, and featured in the Champions League final.
Arteta's decision to shift Lewis-Skelly into midfield, ahead of a tired Martin Zubimendi, proved pivotal. The switch to a role the youngster prefers saw him finish the campaign as Declan Rice's favoured midfield partner, ranking above Zubimendi in Arteta's plans. That standing now faces a fresh challenge following Arsenal's £75million capture of Bruno Guimaraes, which adds further competition for places in the middle of the park.
Despite the noise surrounding a potential departure, sources close to the situation suggest Lewis-Skelly remains committed to fighting for his place in Arteta's squad rather than seeking an exit. The Athletic reports that the player is fully focused on cementing his role within the first-team setup ahead of the new season.
Speaking about his journey and ambitions, Lewis-Skelly reflected on what it means to represent the club he supports. "I'm a fan and it's like a dream come true," he said. "I've still got a lot of years ahead of me, so if I can keep staying humble and being a good person, that's the most important thing to me. I want a legacy. I want to win everything there is to win in the game. I want to win trophies on the biggest stages whilst being a person that's always learning and stays grounded, which is so important."
From Arsenal's perspective, any departure would require an extraordinary offer. The club's current transfer record stands at £35million, received from Liverpool for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back in 2017. A fee significantly higher than that would be needed for the Gunners to even entertain selling Lewis-Skelly, though such a substantial bid would not necessarily be dismissed outright, particularly given the pure profit such a sale would represent under financial regulations.
Chelsea's interest reportedly followed direct enquiries to Arsenal after intermediaries approached the west London club. However, Chelsea's need for reinforcements at left-back has since been addressed through the signing of Pep Chavarria, while their midfield options already include Romeo Lavia, newly appointed captain Dario Essugo, and summer arrivals Jordan Henderson and Valentin Barco alongside Moises Caicedo.
Manchester United's pursuit of a new left-back also factored into their interest in Lewis-Skelly. With Luke Shaw the only recognised specialist in that position within Michael Carrick's squad heading into a season featuring Champions League commitments, United have been scouting the market. However, Lewis Hall has remained their primary target throughout the window, even as Newcastle's firm stance has complicated negotiations.
It remains uncertain whether Lewis-Skelly would welcome a move to Old Trafford to play in a role that isn't his preference. The Guardian suggests United could revisit the idea of signing a new left-back, potentially reigniting interest in the Arsenal youngster. Manuel Ugarte's serious knee injury has also left United light in midfield despite the arrivals of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, adding another dimension to their squad planning as Casemiro's departure looms.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport, The Athletic, and The Guardian.