Manchester United explored a potential move for Arsenal’s versatile left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly before the transfer deadline, according to The Athletic.
United seem to have prioritised one area of their squad in the last two summer transfer windows. Ahead of the 2025-26 season, aside from Senne Lemmens, who joined to replace Andre Onana, every other player signed for the first team that summer was an attacker, including Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo.
In the recently concluded transfer window, midfield became the club’s main concern. The need to bolster that area grew after Casemiro’s departure and Manu Ugarte’s long-term injury.
As a result, they brought in Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba in what proved to be an ambitious midfield revamp.
Now, according to The Athletic, there were initial uncertainties about completing Baleba’s transfer to Old Trafford.
However, before striking an agreement on August 18 for £70m, the report reveals that the Red Devils seriously considered submitting a formal offer for Lewis-Skelly, whose situation at Arsenal was precarious at the time, having started only two league games from January to April.
According to the report, intermediaries informed Michael Carrick’s side about the 19-year-old’s potential availability for £45m at the beginning of the summer.
‘Spectacular’ player
However, Lewis Skelly is well liked by Arsenal supporters because of his homegrown status, and he also wanted to remain at the Emirates, according to the report.
The Athletic adds that the deal would have been complicated as Arsenal increased the England international’s valuation to £70m, although the Red Devils were not updated about the price surge.
Still, following the arrival of Ezri Konsa, the Gunners may have been forced to sanction Lewis-Skelly’s departure to fund other transfer targets, including Julian Alvarez, according to the report.
In the end, the report says United walked away from further negotiations two weeks before the transfer deadline after learning of Arsenal’s tough stance on retaining the versatile midfielder.
A move for Lewis-Skelly would have made sense for Man United. The Englishman, described as ‘spectacular’ by Jamie Carragher, can play at left-back while also providing Carrick with a combative midfield option when needed.
Having walked away from any potential deal, it’ll be interesting to see whether the Premier League giants will return in January with a formal offer or explore other options.
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