Myles Lewis-Skelly has been offered to Chelsea and Manchester United, but both clubs have rejected the move.
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Myles Lewis-Skelly is making headlines again, though not for his performances this time. Both Chelsea and Manchester United have turned down the chance to sign the Arsenal starlet, as per the latest transfer news. The offer reportedly came through a middleman this summer.
Myles Lewis-Skelly Rejected By Two Premier League Rivals
As reported by the Telegraph, both Premier League clubs were approached by a middleman working for the Gunners left-back, but neither club pursued the proposal. Arsenal are said to value him at around £45m, and that fee would be almost pure profit since he came through the academy. He turns 20 in September, so he still has time to develop. He has also drawn interest from Real Madrid before, though nothing came of it.
Part of the issue is where he plays. Lewis-Skelly ended last season well, as Arsenal finally won the league after a 22-year wait. But much of his best form came when pushed into a more central role, and that part of the pitch is already crowded. Bruno Guimaraes has joined Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino in midfield, with Martin Odegaard also in the mix. There is simply too much talent ahead of him right now.
Chelsea, for their part, had already sorted their left-back spot. They sold Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid this summer and replaced him with Rayo Vallecano’s Pep Chavarria, in a deal worth close to £19m. With over £300m already spent this window, there was little room for another signing there. Xabi Alonso wants his side back among Europe’s elite, leaving no space for a football deal with a direct rival.
Myles Lewis-Skelly for Arsenal in 2025/26, as per FOTMOB:
Competitions Matches Starts Assists Successful Dribbles % Defensive Contributions
Premier League 20 5 0 80 25
FA Cup 3 3 0 34 4
EFL Cup 3 3 2 80 11
UCL 10 8 2 100 27
Manchester United Remain Cautious Over A Move
United’s stance was a bit different, but the outcome was the same. They turned down the move, even though reports had linked them with the teenager for years. He first broke into Mikel Arteta’s plans two seasons ago and has since won six England caps. His first game, against Albania early last year, could hardly have gone better.
He scored on his debut and was named man of the match. United did not change their stance on this occasion. The fee did not work for United. The decision shows how carefully United are weighing the risk against the reward at this stage.
There is also word that he has been offered to other clubs beyond these two, though Liverpool are said to be an exception. The decision is consistent with Liverpool’s wider transfer approach this summer. Given how much Liverpool have already added to the squad, staying patient here fits their wider approach.
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Myles Lewis-Skelly Determined To Fight For His Place
Despite the extra competition, Lewis-Skelly wants to earn his spot under Arteta. His departure would be a significant loss for Arsenal. Several other outlets have echoed the same details this week. He and Ethan Nwaneri are seen as central to the club’s future. Should either leave down the line, Bukayo Saka and Max Dowman would then carry most of the responsibility for representing Arsenal’s academy. That is a lot to ask of two players still establishing themselves.
For now, this story looks settled rather than resolved. Two big Premier League rivals said no, and Lewis-Skelly still wants to stay and fight for a place. Arsenal, for their part, seem relaxed about how things stand. Unless something changes fast, expect this saga to quietly fade before the new season starts in earnest.
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