Manchester United are eyeing up a left-back in the summer and are keeping tabs on Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly, who has fallen down the pecking order at the Emirates
Myles Lewis-Skelly has only started one Premier League game this season
Myles Lewis-Skelly has only started one Premier League game this season(Image: Getty Images)
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Manchester United have added Myles Lewis-Skelly to their shortlist ahead of their search for a left-back this summer, which could leave Arsenal with a decision to make.
The Red Devils have a number of areas they want to address and adding a full-back is one of them. Lewis-Skelly enjoyed a breakout season last term but this time round has seen his minutes and opportunities limited, partly down to the club's summer arrivals.
The 19-year-old only signed a new five-year deal in the summer, but since then has struggled for opportunities and started just once in the Premier League all season. His decline in minutes is also set to cost him a spot at the World Cup.
Lewis-Skelly is viewed in high regard at the Emirates, having been one of their more impressive academy graduates in recent seasons, but need minutes to continue his development and United may look to seize on his current situation. Sky Sports also understands that Newcastle's Lewis Hall and Eintracht Frankfurt's Nathaniel Brown are on the shortlist at Old Trafford.
Arsenal themselves are looking to make additions come the summer, but would need to raise cash via player sales. If they were to offload Lewis-Skelly then he would represent pure profit having come through their youth system.
Mikel Arteta was recently quizzed on the situation and admitted that his competition are keeping him out of the side. He said: “Yes (he will have chances), and when he has those opportunities, he has to grab them. His attitude has been excellent. He’s not playing more because there are other players that are playing as well. They’ve been phenomenal. That’s football, but we’ll try to give him the minutes that he deserves.”
Arsenal's academy stars have paid the price for the club's recent recruitment with Ethan Nwaneri, another player who had regular opportunities last season, having to head out on loan to Marseille in January for more exposure.
Myles Lewis-Skelly has fallen down Mikel Arteta's pecking order
Myles Lewis-Skelly has fallen down Mikel Arteta's pecking order(Image: David Price, Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Luke Shaw, when fit, has been United's left-back but the 30-year-old has struggled with availability in the past. United's possible pursuit of Lewis-Skelly would create a rare predicament where Arsenal would face transfer attention from a direct rival.
Ayden Heaven recently moved from the Emirates to Old Trafford, but he was nowhere near along his development path as Lewis-Skelly. Any sale, especially to a club like United, would likely be poorly received by those in north London.
United's ultimate priority come the summer is a central midfielder with the likes of Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton and Carlos Baleba on their radar.
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