Manchester United are still monitoring the Arsenal midfielder, but the Gunners’ valuation and Mikel Arteta’s confidence are likely to prove decisive.
Manchester United remain hopeful of landing Myles Lewis-Skelly, with The S*n reporting that the club believe Arsenal could still be persuaded to sell the academy graduate before the transfer window closes.
United have been monitoring the Arsenal midfielder and could make a move if their preferred pursuit of Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall proves too difficult.
However, Arsenal’s valuation is understood to be a significant obstacle, with the latest update claiming the Gunners value Lewis-Skelly at more than £50m.
Earlier S*n coverage had put Arsenal’s desired fee closer to £60m, rather than the £45m figure that had previously circulated.
That high valuation is also said to be one reason Mikel Arteta remains confident that he can keep Lewis-Skelly at the club.
The 19-year-old has strengthened his case to remain central to Arsenal’s plans by starting both the Community Shield victory and the Premier League win that followed.
Yet, The S*n, having forgot all about how influential Martin Zubimendi was last season, claims his recent involvement may also have been influenced by midfield circumstances. They claim Zubimendi is struggling. They also add that Mikel Merino returning late after Spain’s World Cup final is another factor.
For Arsenal, however, Arteta’s own assessment leaves little room for doubt over the club’s intentions.
Asked whether he was confident Myles Lewis-Skelly would still be an Arsenal player after the transfer window, Arteta said:
“100 per cent.”
He then added: “The players that have been raised in our [academy] system and they feel that love and connection with the club, it brings something else. There is no question about that. We need to look after them in a very special way because they bring value that is very difficult to [find].
“That’s why, when we can, we have to protect those assets as much as possible, develop them, and make them very important for the club.”
United may still retain hope of signing Lewis-Skelly, particularly if their pursuit of Hall stalls, but Arsenal’s valuation and Arteta’s emphatic stance underline the difficulty of turning that interest into a deal, and that’s before you even consider the massive Arsenal fan backlash that would also follow any sale.
- Juventus give up on Arsenal signing & turn to Liverpool playerJuventus are seemingly turning to Liverpool’s Giovanni Leoni amid a belief that Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori is unattainable, according to a report.
- Arsenal star set to be fit for Leeds despite missing international breakDeclan Rice is expected to be fit to start for Arsenal this weekend, despite missing the international break with an injury concern.
- Arsenal duo’s countries confirm Pot 1 status in Euro 2028 qualifyingThe Netherlands and Greece were among three teams to mathematically confirm a place in Pot 1 for the Euro 2028 qualifiers over the weekend, in good news for Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber and Christos Tzolis.
- Did Haaland pick up injury with Norway pre-Liverpool clash?Erling Haaland asked to be substituted and limped from the pitch during Norway’s defeat to Portugal on Sunday, but his manager has played down fears of a serious issue.
- Arsenal summer signing scores 1st goal for England u17sArsenal’s Mylo Bernard put in an impressive performance and scored for the England u17s against Germany on Sunday, but his team ultimately slipped to defeat.