Manchester United have been offered the opportunity to sign Arsenal star Myles Lewis-Skelly, according to The Guardian.
The Red Devils have primarily focused on the midfield department this summer, having brought in Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos to Old Trafford.
The club are also eyeing another left-back for the new season, and Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall has been constantly linked in the last few weeks.
The Guardian now reveal that United have been made aware of the availability of Lewis-Skelly, who could depart after the Gunners’ huge outlay on Bruno Guimaraes.
Chelsea have also been informed of the player’s situation. The Premier League champions are likely to hold out for £45 million to part ways with the teenager.
United are still in the transfer market for a third midfield signing, while they are likewise keen on adding a solid competitor to Luke Shaw for the left-back position.
Hall has been regularly mentioned as a target, but a deal looks difficult to pursue with the Magpies having sold Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon this summer.
On the contrary, Lewis-Skelly has been offered to the Red Devils and Chelsea, likely through his agent/mother, Marcia. He may want more first-team football.
With Guimaraes’ arrival at Arsenal, the 19-year-old may not get a regular starting role in midfield.
Guimaraes and Declan Rice will be the preferred central midfield pairing, while there is still Martin Zubimendi and a fit again Mikel Merino, who had a stellar World Cup.
Lewis-Skelly, hailed as ‘unbelievable‘ by Rice last year, has largely played as a left-back in his Arsenal career, but he finds himself behind Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie in the position at the current point in time.
Hence, his desire to consider a new challenge does not seem a surprise. At United, he could get valuable game time as a left-back, given Shaw’s minutes may need to be managed with the extra workload due to the Champions League as well as the possibility of going deeper in the Cup competitions.
Patrick Dorgu was signed as a deputy for Shaw from Lecce, but he has played as a left-sided winger under manager Michael Carrick. The club see him as an attacking option ahead of the new season.
At £45m, Lewis-Skelly would represent a bargain signing due to his immense potential and tender age (19). With his ability to play as a left-back or in midfield, he would represent a much better acquisition than Hall, who could cost a higher price if Newcastle were to contemplate his departure.