Arsenal have indicated they are going to only sell Manchester United goal Myles Lewis-Skelly for an ‘absolutely crazy’ transfer fee.
United have reportedly expressed interest in signing Lewis-Skelly from Premier League rivals Arsenal this summer.
Luke Shaw has enjoyed a powerful season at Old Trafford but United are believed to be of the opinion that he’ll need support next yr ahead of the club’s likely return to the Champions League.
Manchester United admire Lewis-Skelly despite the 19-year-old enduring a surprisingly underwhelming season for the Premier League title favourites.
Lewis-Skelly made his Arsenal debut last season and ended up making 39 appearances in all competitions, helping the Gunners challenge for the title and reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.
The teenager was particularly impressive in Arsenal’s superb European win over Real Madrid and was subsequently hailed because the Young Player of the Season by Manchester United and Liverpool legends Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher.
Arsenal awarded academy graduate Lewis-Skelly with a brand new long-term contract last summer and expected him to kick on this season and proceed to impress under Mikel Arteta.
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Nonetheless he has barely featured for the Gunners, making only one start within the Premier League and slipping behind Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie within the pecking order.
Lewis-Skelly’s lack of game-time has led to speculation he’ll leave Arsenal at the top of the season and Manchester United are keeping tabs on his situation.
Representatives of the player are believed to have approached United to debate a possible move, with each parties interested.
But transfer expert Ben Jacobs, speaking on The United Stand, says it could be a ‘really difficult’ deal for United to agree as a result of Arsenal’s stance.
It’s claimed the Gunners are greater than glad to maintain hold of Lewis-Skelly and can only sanction his exit for an ‘absolutely crazy’ fee.
While Arsenal look able to play hardball, ex-Gunners striker Alan Smith believes his former could would at the very least be willing to sell a first-team regular and academy graduate to Manchester United.
‘I feel Arsenal would sell him now,’ Smith told BestBettingSites. ‘I mean, they might make profit provided that he’s an academy player.
‘Two players ahead of him at Arsenal are Calafiori and Hincapie, who’re higher defenders. A bit like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Lewis-Skelly isn’t such defender.
‘So, United buying him, that’ll be interesting. I mean, look, who’s going to be the manager at United? Possibly he’s going to have a say in that.
‘But Lewis-Skelly, that’s his best role, coming into that midfield. Luke Shaw has been really regular for United at left-back. He’s had season, ever-present.
‘So, it’ll be interesting to see whether Manchester United go for him. I feel Arsenal would sell him to United, in all fairness.’
Given his lack of minutes, Lewis-Skelly would have appreciated his two outings for England U21 through the international break against Moldova and Andorra.
Lewis-Skelly could possibly be utilized by Arteta on the weekend when Arsenal return to motion within the FA Cup with a quarter-final tie against Southampton.
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