Manchester United have shortlisted Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly in the lead-up to the summer transfer window.
Sky Sports reporter Danyal Khan confirmed the Red Devils’ interest with a shock update this afternoon.
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What’s being said about United and Myles Lewis-Skelly?
Khan revealed on X/Twitter: “Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly is another player on MUFC’s list of potential left-backs this summer.
“AFC understood to be needing to sell in summer to make additions to squad – remains to be seen whether MLS is one of those players. As reported yesterday – United looking at likes of Nathaniel Brown, Lewis Hall as well.”
Myles Lewis-Skelly is another player on Manchester United’s list of potential left-back targets this summer, Sky Sports News understands. pic.twitter.com/ULb8muRYy1
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 26, 2026
It’s not the first time United have been linked with Lewis-Skelly this week, either, showing there might well be some substance in the speculation.
How Lewis-Skelly is faring in 2025/2026
The Hale End graduate faces an uncertain future heading into the summer after falling out of favour this season.
By the end of his breakout campaign last term, Lewis-Skelly had nailed down a starting spot in the Premier League under Mikel Arteta.
Miles Lewis-Skelly has won 83% of his ground duels in the Premier League this season, the best rate of any player to have contested at least 20.
Having an impressive breakout campaign. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/x2czCEbasJ
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) January 15, 2025
However, the addition of Piero Hincapie and the stellar form of Riccardo Calafiori this time around has meant there’s been little to no room for the 19-year-old to reclaim his place.
As a result, he has started only once in the league thus far and has been an unused substitute for 16 matches, with his last appearance coming on January 8 against Liverpool.
Earlier in the season, Lewis-Skelly had been trusted to make an impact throughout the Gunners’ Champions League campaign, and started six of their eight group-stage fixtures. Then, for their last-16 tie against Bayer Leverkusen, he was unused for the first leg and made just a one-minute cameo in the second.
Why United are targeting a new left-back
United shortlisting the full-back comes amid growing uncertainty over Luke Shaw’s future at Old Trafford.
He is contracted to the club until 2027, after which United will presumably look to part ways with their current longest-serving Red.
Recent reports have suggested the club harbour concerns over Shaw’s physicality; despite him being available to start every Premier League match this term, he has missed a whopping 231 games through injury over the last 12 years.
Bringing in an up-and-coming prospect like Lewis-Skelly, who also boasts a plethora of experience across Europe already, to provide competition to Shaw and continue developing his own game might be a wise route for INEOS to take.
He can play at left back as he does for England and Arsenal, but he will eventually become a world class midfielder.
When I first saw him play in the Arsenal academy as a midfielder back then he was a class above the rest of his team in winning the ball and then driving the ball forward. He moved with strength and close control (similar to how John Barns use to carry the ball forward) , he was always head and shoulders above the rest of the team.
However, since his move to the first team and their long list of central midfielders, he has grown into his original temporary covering roll of left back.
It is only at matter of time before he fills his destiny as a central midfielder where the is more emphasis on control, passing and strength and less emphasis on agility and positional play, which can sometimes let him down at defending against that rare type of attacking agility player from a left back position for a long 90 minutes.
I think unless Arsenal have plans to eventually move him to his natural midfield position, then they should sell him for £50 million (£60 million with future addons), or cheaper with a future cheap buy back clause included.