Myles Lewis-Skelly: Arsenal wonderkid 'offered' to Man Utd as summer transfer chances increase

Suraj Radia

31 Mar 2026 15:04 BST
6 min read

Manchester United have been offered the chance to sign Myles Lewis-Skelly this summer amid fears that Arsenal are in danger of losing one of their top wonderkids to a Premier League rival.

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Lewis-Skelly was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award last season after a breakthrough campaign but he has made just one league start in since then and only played 313 minutes.

Current ETV

Myles Lewis-Skelly

D (L), M (C)

Arsenal

Myles Lewis-Skelly

D (L), M (C)

Arsenal

ETV Range

€50.9M - €62.2M

The 19-year-old now looks set to miss out on a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the 2026 World Cup, having been capped six times last season and being touted as the country’s top left-back option.

United are hoping to sign a long-term successor to Luke Shaw at left-back this summer and, according to the Daily Mail, Lewis-Skelly is under consideration by Old Trafford chiefs after being offered to the club by intermediaries.

The surprising revelation suggests that Lewis-Skelly is in search of a move this summer in order to find more first team football, particularly with Riccardo Calafiori and the now-permanently signed Piero Hincapie ahead of him in the Arsenal pecking order.

While Arsenal are reluctant to permanently sell an academy graduate who is still highly-rated by Mikel Arteta, their hand may be forced if Lewis-Skelly looks to push for an exit, with United ready to pounce in such an occasion.

Lewis-Skelly ‘enjoying’ Arsenal challenge for minutes

Lewis-Skelly is a lifelong Arsenal fan and has been with the Gunners since the age of nine before making his first team debut in September 2024.

Having come through the academy as a midfielder, Lewis-Skelly found himself being deployed at left-back after injuries to Calafiori and he finished his first season as a senior with 23 league appearances including 15 starts.

© IMAGO - Myles Lewis-Skelly has found minutes hard to come by this season for Arsenal.

After rejecting interest from the likes of Real Madrid and Chelsea to sign a new five-year deal with Arsenal last summer, Lewis-Skelly was expected to be a big figure for Arteta’s side this year but the season has not gone to plan at all for the teenager.

Lewis-Skelly’s last appearance in the Premier League came in January as a substitute in the goalless draw against Liverpool – proving that he still has Arteta’s trust to be played in such a high-profile match.

But, privately, there have been suggestions that Lewis-Skelly may be reverted back to his original midfield role, with Arteta preferring the pedigree of more experienced options in his defence as the Gunners push to secure the Premier League title.

Perhaps Arsenal will not feel confident in giving Lewis-Skelly a bigger role in the team until he proves himself further and the club have considered loaning him out next season, particularly with the youngster still hoping to make the grade at his boyhood club.

Speaking in October, Lewis-Skelly said: “I’m enjoying it this season. It’s a different experience for me, not playing as much at the moment, but I’m enjoying being part of the team. It’s important to compete for places and I’m a competitive person, so I’m never going to back down. I enjoy the challenge. Being with these boys is a joy.

“At the end of the day, I just want to express myself. Football’s what I love and I’ll never make excuses if I am playing or not. I just want to go out there and express myself. As long as I’m doing that, I’m giving the gaffer a choice to make.”

Verdict: Unlikely

Arsenal are well aware of Lewis-Skelly’s potential and would have no desire to see him move to a rival, however a huge offer could tempt them into a transfer given the academy graduate’s sale counting as pure profit for PSR purposes.

© IMAGO - Myles Lewis-Skelly has been linked to Man Utd.

United, meanwhile, could secure their long-term left-back of the future if they do sign Lewis-Skelly, although their desire to spend the majority of their resources on other positions may prevent them from meeting any asking price that Arsenal would demand.

Lewis-Skelly, too, is still young and, will be reminded constantly that progression isn’t linear after his breakout season. For a young talent who has dreamed of playing for Arsenal, it would perhaps be naïve to force a move to United just one year after being touted as the Gunners’ brightest prospect.

A loan move makes more sense for all parties in order for Lewis-Skelly to specialise his position and get used to a full campaign, at which point he could then have a strong case to push for minutes at Arsenal once he has established himself as a star elsewhere.

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