Raphael Borges Rodrigues of Wigan Athletic is challenged by Myles Lewis-Skelly of Arsenal during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Arsenal and Wigan Athletic. Photo: Getty Images
The future of versatile 19-year-old Arsenal player Myles Lewis-Skelly is the latest piece of transfer gossip in the UK.
The left-back, who became part of Arsenal’s title run in via a key role in midfield, wants to remain at his boyhood club according to The Athletic, but the Daily Telegraph suggest Arsenal have used intermediaries to test out Chelsea and Manchester United’s interest with a price of $86 million reported.
Sky Sports and The Guardian report that Chelsea have previously made queries about the teenager, who they think might be a chance of being available thanks to Bruno Guinaraes’ arrival at the Emirates Stadium. Meanwhile, for United boss Michael Carrick, the teenager’s versatility is of interest given Luke Shaw’s perennial injury niggles at left-back.
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The academy product’s future had been subject of analysis last season when he was unable to crack Arsenal’s title winning XI. However, Lewis-Skelly’s display late in the title run-in when thrust into a starting midfield role against Fulham changed the perception around his involvement moving forward and he was a key part of the run-in from there in England and Europe.
But with Guimaraes’ arrival, what gives? Arsenal have a lot of options in their midfield rotation.
There is also the matter of the player’s Instagram post in May where he wrote “pure profit” on his account – a nod to the idea that selling him, as an academy product, would be purely for financial benefit for the club.
He has been used regularly in pre-season, with The Athletic say he is “fully focused” on establishing himself in Mikel Arteta’s first XI, and the club expect more outgoings before the end of the Transfer Window, so the local junior, who is on a long term contract, adds flexibility to their squad.