Myles Lewis-Skelly, di 19-year-old England international, don become hot topic dis transfer season. Chelsea and Manchester United both don receive chance to sign am, according to reports. But Arsenal dem-a dem say dem no actively offer di player to anybody. Di midfielder, wey be product of Gunners’ Hale End academy, also spend time for Cobham as pikin. E only sign contract extension for Emirates Stadium last year, but e still dey linked with move away dis summer.
Last season, Lewis-Skelly play 36 times for Arsenal for all competitions, but only 19 of those na from di start. Football London understand say through club sources, di midfielder don dey offered to Chelsea. Whether di Blues go make move no clear, but sources say di versatile midfielder don dey on west London club’s radar for a while now. If Arsenal receive good offer from Chelsea, e go hard for dem to say no, especially as academy product fit bring pure profit for accounts.
Lewis-Skelly don start every pre-season game as defensive midfielder for Arsenal, especially with Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino and Bruno Guimaraes dey absent. E perform well some times, but e no too consistent. But e impress plenty for left eight role at end of last season, wey secure am start for Champions League final. For Community Shield against Manchester City, e show say e be key player, with pinpoint pass wey open scoring for Riccardo Calafiori.
For Chelsea side, dem don already sign 10 players dis summer for over £270m, so dem attention now dey on outgoings. But nothing fit rule out if opportunity arise to add to squad. Chelsea get left-backs like Jorrel Hato and Pep Chavarria, plus plenty central midfielders like Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, Dario Essugo, Valentin Barco, Jordan Henderson and Enzo Fernandez. So e no likely say dem go sign another midfielder unless dem sell some players.
Manchester United also need left-back, as Patrick Dorgu dey play for advanced role, and Luke Shaw get injury record wey dey patchy. Dem don link with Newcastle‘s Lewis Hall, but e go difficult to sign am. United get option to use Lewis-Skelly as third midfielder, but dem feel say dem want natural full-back to challenge for starting role.
Lewis-Skelly don make clear say e want stay for Arsenal and e dey focused to work for first team regular. But e know say e position dey under threat after arrival of Bruno Guimaraes, wey cost £75m from Newcastle. However, with plenty matches, e fit still get game time e desire. Arsenal still dey look to sell some players before transfer window close, like Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli if suitable offer come, while Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson no part of Mikel Arteta plans.
Arsenal don invest heavy for market, bring in eight players for £250m last summer, and dem spend over £100m dis window already. Dem don sell Christian Norgaard to Everton for £7m and Leandro Trossard to Besiktas for about £15m. But dem know say dem need to dey flexible as deadline approach. For academy graduate like Lewis-Skelly, sale fit present pure profit for accounts, but new Squad Cost Ratio rules mean any sale go spread evenly over three seasons, so dem no go see immediate boost.
At di moment, e no look like move for Lewis-Skelly dey imminent, but e future for Arsenal no certain. Di Community Shield win over Manchester City show say e get value for team, but transfer window still open, so anything fit happen.
