Myles Lewis-Skelly’s 4-word message speaks volumes of Man Utd transfer | Football | Sport
Manchester United transfer target Myles Lewis-Skelly has said four crucial words that outline his stance on leaving Arsenal and moving to Old Trafford. The 19-year-old has been on INEOS’ radar previously and interest has been renewed following the Gunners’ £80million pursuit of Bruno Guimaraes.
Guimaraes’ potential arrival could move Lewis-Skelly lower down the pecking order, having only broken into the starting lineup at the end of the season. And The Independent claim that United are investigating whether Arsenal would be open to selling their academy starlet.
The prospect of departing his boyhood club surfaced last season when Gunners manager Mikel Arteta opted to pursue a different approach regarding his preferred left-backs, favouring conventional defenders with greater pace and physicality.
The signing of Piero Hincapie and Arteta’s preference towards Riccardo Calafiori resulted in Lewis-Skelly’s playing time being significantly reduced last season, with extended periods spent on the bench.
Reports surfaced of United’s desire to recruit the youngster earlier this year but he ultimately remained in north London.
Lewis-Skelly’s perseverance paid dividends late in the campaign as he was utilised in his preferred central-midfield role for the first time against Fulham, where he delivered an outstanding performance, and continued to feature regularly, even starting the Champions League final against PSG.
Last summer, when Lewis-Skelly penned a contract extension until 2030, he said he was thinking long term, telling Arsenal’s official website four crucial words: “I want a legacy.”
He continued with 12 more revealing words: “I want to win everything there is to win in the game,” before adding: “I want to win trophies on the biggest stages whilst being a person that’s always learning and stays grounded, which is so important.”
Lewis-Skelly achieved just that by contributing to Arsenal’s Premier League title triumph last season. Now, he is experiencing a revival as one of England’s most promising midfield prospects.
His exceptional ability, combined with the fact that he possesses the correct temperament and self-belief to thrive at Old Trafford, means United’s fresh interest comes as little shock. But his earlier comments also suggest he will likely stay and compete for his position at Arsenal.
Lewis-Skelly’s impressive recent pre-season performances under Arteta suggest he may feature this campaign prominently. That may put a potential switch to United in doubt, even with the Gunners’ chase of another midfielder, Guimaraes, with whom he will need to compete.
It remains uncertain whether Old Trafford bosses wish to challenge their rivals’ determination. The club strengthened their midfield this summer with the acquisitions of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos for a combined outlay of £83million, with a third midfield signing also under consideration.
