Man United still hopeful of signing Arsenal midfielder

Manchester United are still monitoring the Arsenal midfielder, but the Gunners’ valuation and Mikel Arteta’s confidence are likely to prove decisive.

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Manchester United remain hopeful of landing Myles Lewis-Skelly, with The S*n reporting that the club believe Arsenal could still be persuaded to sell the academy graduate before the transfer window closes.

United have been monitoring the Arsenal midfielder and could make a move if their preferred pursuit of Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall proves too difficult.

However, Arsenal’s valuation is understood to be a significant obstacle, with the latest update claiming the Gunners value Lewis-Skelly at more than £50m.

Earlier S*n coverage had put Arsenal’s desired fee closer to £60m, rather than the £45m figure that had previously circulated.

That high valuation is also said to be one reason Mikel Arteta remains confident that he can keep Lewis-Skelly at the club.

The 19-year-old has strengthened his case to remain central to Arsenal’s plans by starting both the Community Shield victory and the Premier League win that followed.

Yet, The S*n, having forgot all about how influential Martin Zubimendi was last season, claims his recent involvement may also have been influenced by midfield circumstances. They claim Zubimendi is struggling. They also add that Mikel Merino returning late after Spain’s World Cup final is another factor.

For Arsenal, however, Arteta’s own assessment leaves little room for doubt over the club’s intentions.

Asked whether he was confident Myles Lewis-Skelly would still be an Arsenal player after the transfer window, Arteta said:

“100 per cent.”

He then added: “The players that have been raised in our [academy] system and they feel that love and connection with the club, it brings something else. There is no question about that. We need to look after them in a very special way because they bring value that is very difficult to [find].

“That’s why, when we can, we have to protect those assets as much as possible, develop them, and make them very important for the club.”

United may still retain hope of signing Lewis-Skelly, particularly if their pursuit of Hall stalls, but Arsenal’s valuation and Arteta’s emphatic stance underline the difficulty of turning that interest into a deal, and that’s before you even consider the massive Arsenal fan backlash that would also follow any sale.

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