Manchester United have one transfer desire before the summer window slams shut.
Having pulled off a successful midfield rebuild, the 20-time English champions are now turning their attention to signing a left-back.
Keen not to overload Luke Shaw, who has started to look like a point of weakness, INEOS are on the hunt for a reliable left-back option.
Unfortunately, it has become almost certain that their number one target for the position, Lewis Hall, will not be leaving Newcastle United.
As a result, the Red Devils have had to pivot to alternatives, one of whom is Myles Lewis-Skelly.
On Monday, it was claimed that United were hopeful of striking a deal for the Gunner, despite not being ready to meet Arsenal’s £50 million asking price.
However, while we were waiting to see how the situation would evolve, an interesting update has dropped.
Myles Lewis-Skelly Man United transfer blocked
Football Transfers are now reporting that there is no chance Lewis-Skelly leaves Arsenal. They explain:
“There are currently no active talks [over a Lewis-Skelly to Man United switch].
“Why? Because Arteta intervened. We understand that the manager was initially not privy to the conversations that were taking place with Man Utd regarding a possible move – and neither was Lewis-Skelly, for that matter.
“Once Arteta got wind of it, negotiations stopped immediately. The message from the Spaniard is quite clear: Lewis-Skelly is going nowhere, a desire that is also shared by the player.”
Since Arsenal are keen to keep their manager happy, this revelation, if accurate, crosses one more left-back option off United’s wishlist.
It will therefore be interesting to see who the 20-time English champions end up signing to answer their need for someone to offer Shaw competition at left-back.
Balde option
Alejandro Balde is certainly worth watching closely, as the Spaniard is heavily linked with a move away from Barcelona.
Man United, in turn, are heavily linked with his services. INEOS are ready to bring him to M16 on a season-long loan, though the Spanish champions are said to prefer a permanent transfer.
Should a compromise be reached, Balde could come in as the reliable left-back option Michael Carrick can count on to fully implement his tactical vision of an overlapping left-back.
The Peoples Person Reliability Assessment
Overall credibility: 8/10
Why?
✅ Reported by a source with a decent track record on Premier League transfer news
✅ No club-to-club talks confirmed
TPP View
We believe Myles Lewis-Skelly’s fate is not sealed, and Man United could take advantage of Arsenal’s willingness to sell to strike a deal, despite Arteta’s stance.
Featured image Clive Mason via Getty Images
