Manchester United are searching for a midfielder and a left-back as the transfer window draws to a close.
Duel need
The Red Devils have already signed two midfielders, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, but are looking for a third option. With Luke Shaw ageing and being tasked with playing in four different competitions next season, United are also in need of support in the left-back position.
Reliable media outlets have suggested United would love to sign a player who could play in both positions, and there is a clear and obvious answer to this problem. Myles Lewis-Skelly seems to be the perfect option on many levels, and here is why.
Age profile
Lewis-Skelly is exactly the type of age profile that INEOS are keen to target. He is just 19 years old, and the Red Devils have shown that they are prepared to spend big on young talent.
Leny Yoro, Patrick Dorgu and Tynan Thompson have all been signed by INEOS in recent years, and it stands to reason the club would be happy to spend the money on Lewis-Skelly if need be. The teenager would prove significant value for money owing to his best years being ahead of him and the potential for resale value, which matters immensely to the current ownership.
Experience
The amazing thing about Lewis-Skelly is that, in spite of his young age, he has already gained a lot of big-game experience. The Londoner has already played 76 matches for Arsenal, but it is also the quality of the matches he has played.
He played 20 Premier League matches last season and 10 games in the Champions League as Arsenal made it to the final. As evidence of his talent, Lewis-Skelly actually started the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain back in May.
Qualities
At the end of the day, the most important reason to sign the player is his quality and his ability to play in two positions.
The England international has been described as “a player with great mobility. He acts as a real playmaker from different positions on the pitch.”
This would be vitally important for United, as they sometimes find it tough to create when Bruno Fernandes is off his game. This creativity can be seen when he played a sublime pass for Riccardo Calafiori to score in the opening seconds of the Community Shield final at the weekend.
In addition, “he has a high passing technique, a great ball control and is a great asset when it comes to bringing the ball out from the back, either through progressive passing or through his powerful and precise carrying with the ball.” Lewis-Skelly is also a physical player who can use his athleticism to bully midfielders and attackers alike.
In comparison to Luke Shaw when playing full-back, the youngster won 84.3% of his defensive duels in comparison to Shaw’s 51.1%. In addition, he was able to make significantly more progressive carries of the ball.
Final thoughts
With Lewis-Skelly reportedly available at Arsenal this summer, the versatile youngster would not only be an exciting addition to a young team but would also complement perfectly the transfer vision INEOS have tried to instil at the club.
Myles Lewis-Skelly Stats: 2025/26 Season
| Competition | Appearances | Starts | Goals | Assists | Yellow Cards | Red Cards | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 17 | 3 | - | - | 3 | - | 501' |
| UEFA Champions League | 8 | 6 | - | 2 | 1 | - | 536' |
| EFL Cup | 3 | 3 | - | 2 | - | - | 270' |
| FA Cup | 3 | 3 | - | - | 2 | - | 240' |
| Total | 31 | 15 | - | 4 | 6 | - | 1,547' |
Featured image Clive Mason via Getty Images
