Arsenal teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly draws Chelsea enquiry amid Man Utd interest
Chelsea make fresh enquiry for Arsenal midfielder
Chelsea have reportedly made a new enquiry regarding the availability of Arsenal midfielder Myles Lewis-Skelly. The London club has maintained a long-term interest in the teenager and has once again checked on his status, particularly after Arsenal’s recent acquisition of Bruno Guimaraes.
However, Arsenal appears reluctant to sell Lewis-Skelly to a direct rival, especially to a team they might compete with for top league positions this season. Chelsea had previously been linked with the midfielder in January.
Interest from Manchester United and Arsenal’s stance
Manchester United also holds a long-standing interest in Lewis-Skelly. Despite this, United is still evaluating whether to commit to signing another midfielder or a left-back before the transfer deadline. There are questions about whether United would be able to pursue further significant deals if they were to make a move for Lewis-Skelly.
The current transfer market has seen high prices for central-midfield players this summer, although Lewis-Skelly is capable of playing in multiple positions. Arsenal, after keeping their squad largely intact last season despite considerable spending, aims to be ambitious again this summer. However, the club acknowledges that some player sales will be necessary.
Players like Lewis-Skelly, an academy graduate, would represent a significant financial gain for Arsenal, as any sale would be considered pure profit. This financial aspect has been noted by some, with Lewis-Skelly himself referencing ‘pure profit’ on his Instagram page during Arsenal’s Premier League title celebrations.
Lewis-Skelly’s recent career trajectory
Lewis-Skelly experienced a challenging period last season, making only one Premier League start before Christmas and just three by early May, despite being fully fit. However, his situation changed significantly in May when manager Mikel Arteta deployed him in a new midfield role during a crucial title run-in match against Fulham. This move reportedly revitalized Arsenal’s team performance.
He was named Man of the Match in a 3-0 victory that helped Arsenal regain momentum in the title race. Following this, Lewis-Skelly remained a key fixture in midfield for the remainder of the season, including the Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. His journey from being a third-choice left-back to playing in one of Arsenal’s most significant matches in recent history marked a turning point in his career at the club.
Despite his recent resurgence, the arrival of Bruno Guimaraes, signed for £75m, has cast doubt on Lewis-Skelly’s regular role in Arsenal’s midfield. With Guimaraes and Declan Rice now being the club’s two most expensive players, Arsenal’s midfield options include Rice, Guimaraes, Lewis-Skelly, Martin Zubimendi, and Mikel Merino. This depth suggests that some players might need to move on.
Since his breakthrough last year, Lewis-Skelly has become a popular figure among Arsenal supporters, showcasing his versatility in both midfield and left-back roles. He notably played 180 minutes in defence when Arsenal defeated Real Madrid in the Champions League in 2025.
There are compelling arguments for Arsenal to retain Lewis-Skelly, especially given the considerable playing time accumulated by key midfielder Declan Rice over the past year. Rice participated in all but two of the Premier League, Champions League, and Carabao Cup matches between January 1 and the end of the season. England manager Thomas Tuchel acknowledged that Rice was experiencing “a lot of pain” by the time of the World Cup, where he was frequently substituted, a rare occurrence during his Arsenal appearances.
The high volume of minutes played by Rice indicates that Arsenal may need to manage his workload more effectively, which could create opportunities for Lewis-Skelly to feature more regularly. However, Arsenal also has Zubimendi and Merino as rotation options for Rice. The club’s need to address other squad areas and improve its record for player sales, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s £35m move to Liverpool in 2017 still being their highest transfer sale, presents a dilemma regarding Lewis-Skelly’s future. Arteta has indicated that important decisions will be made this summer to elevate the team’s performance.
Former player Rio Ferdinand has urged both Manchester United and Chelsea to pursue Lewis-Skelly, suggesting a transfer fee between £60m and £70m would be excellent value for the 19-year-old. Ferdinand highlighted Lewis-Skelly’s crucial role in Arsenal’s Premier League title win and their Champions League final appearance last season, despite a challenging start to the campaign. He also noted Lewis-Skelly’s versatility, particularly his ability to play at left-back, which could address a potential squad depth issue for Manchester United, especially if Luke Shaw were to face injury.
Lewis-Skelly has made 75 senior first-team appearances for Arsenal since his debut in 2024 and has earned six caps for England, though he was not included in Tuchel’s recent World Cup squad. With Arsenal reportedly open to offers following Guimaraes’ arrival, the decision now rests with interested clubs to formalize their interest with concrete bids.
On Wednesday, Pep Chavarria joined Chelsea from Rayo Vallecano, with the Spanish left-back describing it as ‘one of the best days of my life’. Additionally, Aston Villa forward Evann Guessand rejoined Crystal Palace on loan, Ipswich Town signed former loanee Julio Enciso from Strasbourg, and Manchester City secured Geronimo Rulli as a back-up goalkeeper.
Source: bbc.com
