Manchester United have reignited their pursuit of Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly, with reports indicating the club has made a fresh approach to sign the England international. The 19-year-old, who has made 75 appearances for his boyhood club and earned six caps for England, is reportedly a long-standing target for the Red Devils.
Lewis-Skelly's Breakthrough and Recent Struggles
Lewis-Skelly broke into Arsenal's first team during the 2024-25 season, impressing as Mikel Arteta's side finished second in the Premier League and advanced deep into the Champions League. His performances earned him a nomination for the PFA Young Player of the Year and a new long-term contract. However, the following season brought challenges, as he struggled for game time in the first half, often playing backup to Riccardo Calafiori.
Despite the early-season difficulties, Lewis-Skelly demonstrated his value late in the campaign, helping Arsenal clinch their first Premier League title since 2004 and reach the Champions League final. In that final, he became the second-youngest English player to start a Champions League final, but Arsenal suffered a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to PSG.
United's Interest and Arsenal's Stance
According to The Independent, United are 'investigating' whether Arsenal would be willing to sell Lewis-Skelly. The Gunners currently 'prefer' to keep him at the Emirates Stadium, but the situation could change if Arteta completes deals for Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes and Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior. Should both arrivals materialize, Arsenal might look to trim their squad, though they are not actively seeking to sell the young star.
Lewis-Skelly's impressive run of performances late in the season appeared to end speculation over his future, but United's revived interest suggests otherwise. The midfielder was notably left out of Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the 2026 World Cup, despite his strong finish to the campaign.
Arteta's Admission and Praise
Speaking last season, Arteta admitted he had been 'tough' on Lewis-Skelly and hinted he may have erred in limiting his playing time early on. After Lewis-Skelly impressed in a new midfield role, Arteta said: 'He fully deserves it. I've been tough on him. He had a spectacular season last year when he jumped into the first team. He had some difficult moments after that, but he stayed very humble, very focused, very aligned with what we wanted to do, and I knew he was ready.'
Arteta added: 'He's been showing in training every day the opportunities that he had to play. He's done it and today he really stepped up and I thought he had an incredible performance.' When asked why it took so long to give Lewis-Skelly a chance in midfield, Arteta quipped: 'Because probably I don't have a clue and maybe I should have done it earlier, I don't know. But I have to do things when I believe that the player is ready, the team is ready and the opponent is the right one to play with him in that position.'
Transfer Activity and Potential Moves
Arsenal have already sold Leandro Trossard and Jakub Kiwior this summer, with Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, and Christian Norgaard potentially on the move. Manchester United, meanwhile, have signed Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, and Karl Darlow, and are working on a deal for Newcastle's Lewis Hall. The transfer window remains open, and Lewis-Skelly's future could hinge on Arsenal's incoming business.
