Manchester United’s summer transfer window has hardly panned out as fans would have liked. The Red Devils were expected to go all guns blazing into the market following a solid end to the 2025/26 campaign.
The Premier League giants’ performances underwent a sea change following the arrival of Michael Carrick in January. The Englishman secured a third-placed finish in the league, and it was believed that United would use that platform to build a squad capable of competing for titles next season.
Unfortunately, the Red Devils have only signed Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, and Karl Darlow so far in the current window. There remains a requirement for a third midfielder, while a left-back would also be a welcome addition to cover for Luke Shaw.
One player who ticks both boxes and remains linked with a move to Old Trafford, is Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Premier League-proven, versatile target for United
Lewis-Skelly joined the Gunners as an eight year old and rose steadily through the ranks. The Englishman broke into the senior side in the 2024/25 season and has not looked back since.
A left-back by profession who is also comfortable operating in midfield, Lewis-Skelly’s versatility makes him a lucrative option for United. Technically sound and defensively solid, the 19 year old is already tipped to have a huge future ahead of him.
Last season, Lewis-Skelly registered four assists in 36 appearances in all competitions, playing mostly as a left-back but also operating in midfield when required. He started in midfield in Arsenal’s 3-0 Community Shield win over Manchester City last weekend, even setting up Riccardo Calafiori’s opener.
Myles Lewis-Skelly Stats: 2025/26 Season
| Competition | Appearances | Starts | Goals | Assists | Yellow cards | Red cards | Minutes played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 20 | 5 | - | - | 3 | - | 698' |
| UEFA Champions League | 10 | 8 | - | 2 | 1 | - | 700' |
| EFL Cup | 3 | 3 | - | 2 | - | - | 270' |
| FA Cup | 3 | 3 | - | - | 2 | - | 240' |
| Total: | 36 | 19 | - | 4 | 6 | - | 1,908' |
Source: Transfermarkt.
A previous report relayed by The Peoples Person states that United have turned down the chance to sign the teenager this summer. United legend Wayne Rooney, however, believes that Lewis-Skelly could be a superb addition to Carrick’s squad.
Rooney wants Lewis-Skelly at United
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Rooney insisted that a move for Lewis-Skelly makes sense due to his versatility. He said: “I don’t think you can rely on Luke Shaw to be consistent for the whole season and that leads me to Myles Lewis-Skelly.”
“We’re hearing that he could be available for not that much money, so I think that’s an absolute no-brainer. If you can get a player in who can play left-back and centre-midfield, that’s an absolute no-brainer. He’s young and he’s got a massive future ahead of him.”
While Wazza would like to see more additions to Carrick’s squad, he stressed the importance of making the right additions, continuing: “I would like to see another centre-back, another central midfielder and another centre-forward so there’s still a lot of work to be done. But it’s really important that the players they bring in, the club do it right.”
Rooney went on to explain why Arsenal could be tempted to offload Lewis-Skelly this summer, adding: “Arsenal have spent a lot over the last couple of years so selling Lewis-Skelly makes some sense as it would be pure profit.
“I don’t think it would be a great look but I can see why they might sell him. If you’re United and he becomes available it’s a no-brainer, they definitely need to bring in a left-back, that’s a priority for United.”
“I would like to think there’s more players coming in before the window closes, every fan including me wants to see that. But it’s about getting the right players. Looking at the money that has been spent over the last 10 years, it’s been an absolute disaster and the club are probably still recovering from that.”
Final Thoughts
United are running out of time to strengthen their squad, with the transfer window set to close in two weeks. Fans would certainly welcome a versatile player like Lewis-Skelly to the squad, especially since the Red Devils have a congested fixture list this season.
Featured image Clive Mason via Getty Images
