Manchester United have identified Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly as a potential summer target, eSPORTY understands.
Lewis-Skelly has struggled for minutes this season, putting his England World Cup place in jeopardy.
3
The 19-year-old has made just one Premier League start for the Gunners all season.
Both Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie are ahead of the Hale End graduate in the pecking order.
United are looking to bring in a new left-back as competition for Luke Shaw.
Lewis-Skelly out of England squad
Lewis-Skelly’s lack of playing time has seen him omitted from Thomas Tuchel’s last two England squads.
It means his chances of going to the World Cup are slim to none.
There is huge competition at left-back, and currently Newcastle’s Lewis Hall and Manchester City starlet Nico O’Reilly are ahead of him.
Former England left-back Graeme Le Saux, who won 36 caps, told H&J on eSPORTY: “Myles Lewis-Skelly’s position has changed quite quickly at Arsenal. Even when he was playing, he went from a breakout left-back who caught everyone’s eye to then playing more inverted into midfield and stepping in there.
“I think for an international coach, you probably lose a bit of confidence in a player if week in, week out, he’s playing a slightly different position to what you need him for. Thomas Tuchel doesn’t need him to play that way for England.
“Ultimately I think having that rhythm of matches between now and the end of the season is so important for the confidence an England manager has in you because you want to be picking in-form, fit, reliable players and try and de-risk as much as you can from players that haven’t played matches and maybe are lacking in their confidence at that particular time.”
Lewis-Skelly has also been urged to seek a move away from the Emirates this summer.
3
Former England striker Darren Bent told Drive: “He ended last season really well – played for England, scored on his debut for England, was brilliant.
“He signed a new contract [in the summer] and I’m thinking: ‘Coming back [this season], this is going to be his time’.
“[Instead] Calafiori comes back and was absolutely incredible at the beginning of this season, and Lewis Skelly couldn’t get in.
“And then when he did get in, the performances in the league – he’s been good in the Champions League – but his performances in the league weren’t great.
“And then Hincapie came in and he’s been brilliant. Now you’ve got Hincapie playing first, then Calafiori. So now he’s third [Lewis-Skelly].
“Hincapie is obviously a loan. So if Arsenal turn that permanently, which it looks like, then he might have to [leave].
“Listen, I’d be sad to see him go, because of the way he exploded onto the scene.”
Luke Shaw competition
Shaw, 30, has been a surprising success for United this season, putting some of his well documented injury issues behind him.
He has played all 31 of the Red Devils’ Premier League games this season.
3
United are currently third in the Premier League having been revitalised under Michael Carrick, who is in charge until the end of the season.
The Manchester club are yet to give any indication over who will be in permanent charge for the start of the 2026/27 campaign.
Carrick has been nearly faultless so far having lost just one of his 10 games in charge, winning on seven occasions.
