Arsenal weighs Lewis-Skelly's future as transfer window nears close

Arsenal left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly, 19, is once again a talking point before the new Premier League season even begins. After a breakthrough 2024-25 campaign that saw him become one of the league's top young full-backs and earn an England debut, last season proved tougher, as he fell behind Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie in the pecking order for the left-back spot.

In April, Arsenal signalled they would consider offers for Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, hoping to recoup a combined minimum of £100m. However, his strong finish to the season playing in central midfield may have prompted a rethink, and he has been one of the standout performers in pre-season, starting Arsenal's last two friendlies ahead of Sunday's Community Shield against Manchester City.

On Tuesday, reports emerged of interest from two Premier League clubs. A source told BBC Sport that Lewis-Skelly was offered to Manchester United in January, though Arsenal insist they have not actively offered him to any club. United need a left-back, with new signing Patrick Dorgu deployed in an advanced role during pre-season and Luke Shaw's fitness record inconsistent despite starting every league game last season.

Chelsea have also said they were offered the chance to sign Lewis-Skelly, but a move there looks unlikely given the club already has two left-backs and six central midfielders.

Lewis-Skelly himself has made clear he wants to remain at Arsenal and focus on establishing himself as a first-team regular, though his path is complicated by the £75m signing of midfielder Bruno Guimaraes. Arsenal have already spent more than £100m this window and continue to weigh further signings and sales. As an academy graduate, selling Lewis-Skelly would technically count as pure profit for the club, though new Squad Cost Ratio rules mean such gains will now be spread across a player's contract length rather than booked immediately.