Transfer twist as Chelsea and Man Utd issue a shocking respond to £45m Myles Lewis-Skelly offer from Arsenal
Arsenal have stunned the transfer market by reportedly offering academy product Myles Lewis-Skelly to Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester United in a bid to recoup funds following heavy investment in midfield. However, both clubs have issued surprising responses to the availability of the versatile 19-year-old, with Manchester United flatly rejecting the opportunity and Chelsea signaling they will not pursue a deal at this time.
United's firm rejection
Manchester United have flatly turned down Arsenal's offer to sign Lewis-Skelly, rebuffing what Rio Ferdinand believes represents an outstanding opportunity. The rejection comes as a surprise given the club's apparent need for defensive reinforcement at left-back, where Luke Shaw's fitness record remains patchy and Patrick Dorgu has been deployed primarily in an advanced attacking role throughout pre-season and under manager Michael Carrick.
Rio Ferdinand has publicly urged the club to reconsider their stance on Lewis-Skelly. Ferdinand believes the Red Devils should immediately move to secure his signature, valuing him between 60 million and 70 million pounds. "If I'm Manchester United right now I say press the green button and buy him take him right now," Ferdinand stated. "What a player, a top player. He was a massive part of the team when he was brought in towards the end of the season. He contributed to Arsenal winning the league he was brilliant and came in and produced."
Ferdinand has highlighted Lewis-Skelly's versatility as a key selling point, noting that his ability to play in midfield and at left-back would address Manchester United's squad needs. "He's young, a huge talent, can play in two positions and I think mentally he's made of the right stuff," Ferdinand explained. He pointed out that Mazraoui and Dalot are not natural left-backs and Dorgu operates primarily as a left-winger, suggesting Lewis-Skelly could fill a genuine gap in the squad.
Chelsea's position
Chelsea have signaled they will not pursue the signing, despite reportedly being offered the chance to acquire the teenager. The club's recent acquisition of Chavarria suggests they were seeking a different type of experience to balance their defensive options. With two left-backs already on their books and no European football to navigate this season, Chelsea are not expected to pursue a third left-back.
The Blues already possess six central midfielders, and reporting suggests it is unlikely they would be in the market to sign Lewis-Skelly without substantial sales elsewhere in the squad. Their current transfer strategy appears focused on addressing alternative needs rather than bolstering their full-back options.
An impressive young talent
The 19-year-old has earned his place in the conversation following an outstanding contribution to Arsenal's campaign. He played a crucial role in helping Arsenal win the Premier League title and reach the Champions League final during the 2025-26 season. Since making his senior debut for Arsenal in 2024, Lewis-Skelly has amassed 75 appearances across all competitions.
His performances have earned him recognition on the international stage, with six caps for the England national team. Remarkably, he became the youngest man to score on his Three Lions debut. He was later omitted from Thomas Tuchel's recent World Cup squad.
Mikel Arteta has been vocally supportive of Lewis-Skelly's development, despite the decision to offer him to rivals. Speaking previously, Arteta noted: "I've been tough on him. He had a spectacular season last year when he jumped into the first team. He had some difficult moments after that but he stayed very humble, very focused, very aligned with what we wanted to do."
The midfielder has previously stated his ambitions: "I want a legacy. I want to win everything there is to win in the game. I want to win trophies on the biggest stages whilst being a person that's always learning and stays grounded, which is so important."
Arsenal's transfer strategy
Arsenal's decision to offer Lewis-Skelly reflects their broader transfer activity this summer. The club has spent over 100 million pounds in this transfer window already and continues to look to add more players before the deadline. Having invested heavily in the market, Arsenal are now seeking to generate funds through player sales.
Club sources indicated earlier in the summer that Arsenal had considered listening to offers for Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, with the club looking to recoup a minimum combined 100 million pounds for both players. However, Lewis-Skelly's excellent end-of-season resurgence in his natural position of centre midfield may have sparked a rethink over his status.
Despite the speculation, Lewis-Skelly has made his position clear. The player has indicated that he is not currently looking for a move and remains fully committed to breaking into the starting XI under Arteta.
As an academy graduate, any sale of Lewis-Skelly would represent pure profit in the club's accounts. However, the introduction of new Squad Cost Ratio rules means any sale of a player will now be spread evenly over the length of their contract, preventing clubs from showing an immediate boost on their books after selling an academy graduate.
At present, a move for Lewis-Skelly does not appear imminent, though his future at Arsenal remains uncertain given the club's desire to balance their squad and raise transfer funds.