Myles Lewis-Skelly: Arsenal's Rising Star Targeted by Manchester United and Chelsea
Rio Ferdinand has urged Manchester United and Chelsea to move fast and hard for Myles Lewis-Skelly, telling them to “get the chequebook out” for the Arsenal teenager.
According to reports, Arsenal have offered the 19-year-old England international to both clubs this summer after a breakthrough season in which he helped deliver the Premier League title and a run to the Champions League final under Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal’s rising star on the market
Lewis-Skelly’s campaign did not start smoothly. He had to wait, biding his time on the fringes as Arsenal chased major honours on multiple fronts. When the pressure cranked up in the final months, Arteta turned to him — and the youngster responded.
He forced his way into the side during the run-in and became a key part of the title charge, playing a crucial role as Arsenal ended their wait for the Premier League and pushed all the way to the Champions League showpiece. Those performances have rapidly elevated his status in north London.
Yet despite that rise, Arsenal are understood to be open to cashing in. The club have just sealed a £75 million move for Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle, a marquee signing that crowds an already competitive midfield and raises obvious questions about minutes for a 19-year-old.
That has opened a door. Ferdinand thinks United and Chelsea should be sprinting through it.
Ferdinand’s verdict: ‘Press the green button’
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand could barely hide his admiration for Lewis-Skelly and his frustration at the idea that a rival might move first.
“If I’m Manchester United right now I say press the green button and buy him, take him, right now,” he said. “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.”
For Ferdinand, the numbers being discussed make the decision even easier.
“If he’s on the market and he’s a good price you have to take him. The good price I’m saying is £60m or £70m. If that’s the case, get the chequebook out, slap it down and sign him. No questions asked, I would take him.”
The tactical fit at Old Trafford
Ferdinand’s argument is not just about talent. It is about profile and problem-solving.
Lewis-Skelly is primarily a midfielder, but his ability to operate at left-back gives him a tactical edge that Ferdinand believes United desperately need. Luke Shaw stayed fit and featured heavily last season, stabilising a position that has often been a headache. Behind him, though, the options thin out quickly.
Patrick Dorgu is now viewed more as a left-winger. Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot can fill in but are not natural left-backs. One Shaw injury and United are improvising again.
“He’s young, a huge talent, can play in two positions and I think mentally he’s made of the right stuff,” Ferdinand said. “The left-back position at Manchester United is not a problem because we’ve got Luke Shaw who played a lot of games last season and stayed fit.
“But if he does get injured we haven’t got a natural left-back sitting there. Dorgu is more of a left-winger now and Mazraoui and Dalot aren’t full left-backs. So that’s an area I think you can bring in someone like Myles Lewis-Skelly and he can play man, definitely.”
For a squad that has struggled with balance and depth, a player who can anchor midfield and cover full-back offers obvious appeal.
A career at a crossroads
Lewis-Skelly has already packed plenty into the early stages of his career. Since making his senior debut for his boyhood club in 2024, he has racked up 75 appearances for Arsenal. His emergence at club level earned him six caps for England, even if Thomas Tuchel left him out of the most recent World Cup squad.
That omission underlines where he stands: highly rated, proven in big games, but still at the stage where the next move could define his trajectory.
Arsenal’s willingness to listen to offers after landing Guimaraes has pushed the situation to a tipping point. The ball now sits firmly in Manchester and west London. United and Chelsea both need energy, versatility and long-term building blocks.
The question is simple: who is brave enough to write the cheque first?
