Manchester United are one week removed from being offered Arsenal midfielder Myles Lewis-Skelly this summer
Myles Lewis-Skelly celebrates after the Community Shield win vs Manchester City
Myles Lewis-Skelly celebrates after the Community Shield win vs Manchester City(Image: Alex Pantling - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
View 2 Images
Few will have watched Arsenal's comfortable victory over Manchester City and not been impressed by Myles Lewis-Skelly. The 19-year-old started alongside new signing Bruno Guimaraes at the Principality Stadium and, after just 24 seconds, he played a defence-splitting pass for Riccardo Calafiori to open the scoring.
It was yet another brilliant display from the teenager that caught the eye of Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney. "Lewis Skelly, we're hearing that he is available for not much money, I think it's an absolute no-brainer (to sign him)," he told the Stick to United podcast. "If you can get a player that can play left back and central midfield. He's young and he's got a massive future ahead of him, I think that's an absolute no-brainer if you can bring him in."
Last week, MEN Sport reported that Arsenal had offered Lewis-Skelly to United and Chelsea this summer. It has been suggested a fee of just £45m would be enough to sign the midfielder. At that price, the Reds would be landing themselves a bargain.
United's hopes of signing him were boosted further by Mikel Arteta's response to Lewis-Skelly's opportunities this season. "Depends what happens with the squad," he said in Cardiff. "Depends how he trains. Depends on the position. A lot of factors, nothing else. There's a lot of players that can play in various positions. And there's a huge quality that we have in the squad."
Guimaraes' arrival does not help Lewis-Skelly. He has been pushed down the pecking order by the Brazil international. Plus, the likes of Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Martin Zubimendi are already providing stern competition for the teenager.
His root to minutes at left-back is also blocked by Calafiori and Piero Hincapie. This, coupled with Arteta's comments suggesting that minutes are not guaranteed for Lewis-Skelly, should give United a good shot of convincing him that a switch to Old Trafford is for the best.
However, United have a dilemma when it comes to Lewis-Skelly. His versatility is a key strength and one that will have put him on United's radar, but the Reds may struggle to guarantee him minutes in his favoured position.
"I was originally training in midfield for [a few] months, around December until April," Lewis-Skelly said after winning the title in May. "That period there I was just learning my craft, learning that position. For me, that was natural as a young player, because that was where I grew up playing midfield.
"But it was just to kind of refine the smaller details in that position, in that team. What different players like, when I'm in different areas of the pitch as well.
"It felt like this is where I belong, it wasn't like 'what's going on here'. It felt very natural to me."
Myles Lewis-Skelly won the Premier League with Arsenal last season
Myles Lewis-Skelly won the Premier League with Arsenal last season(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images For Premier League)
View 2 Images
This season, Lewis-Skelly has continued to prove why he is so good in midfield. However, if he was to join United, the Reds, like Arsenal, have competition he'd have to overcome. Andrey Santos, Mason Mount, Youri Tielemans and Kobbie Mainoo are all battling for those positions behind Bruno Fernandes in attacking midfield.
Lewis-Skelly's arrival could force him to be pigeon-holed at left-back, at least in the short term. Luke Shaw is currently the only senior option for this position. Patrick Dorgu has been moved up the pitch to play as a winger, while Diego Leon and Harry Amass are not options right now.
If Shaw struggles to adapt to the hectic schedule this season, Lewis-Skelly would be called upon to replace him and that may be a worry for Lewis-Skelly. It seems the teenager is determined to be a Premier League midfielder and if United can only offer him regular minutes at left-back, at least to begin with, that could hinder their chances of convincing him to move to Old Trafford.
Chelsea already hold somewhat of an advantage. They allow Lewis-Skelly to stay in London and they can also offer him regular midfield minutes next season, especially if Enzo Fernandez departs.
So United are in a dilemma should they choose to pull the trigger on a move for Lewis-Skelly. Even if they convince him that a role at left-back in the short term is okay, United would not be playing the teenager in his best position most of the time. The Reds must decide whether spending £45m to do that, is wise or not.