Man Utd make fresh decision on signing Myles Lewis-Skelly as offer for Barcelona star is lodged

Man Utd have made a decision on whether to pursue a deal to sign Arsenal star Myles Lewis-Skelly before the transfer deadline, according to reports.

The Red Devils have already made four new signings this summer with Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos, Karl Darlow and Tynan Thompson all joining.

Man Utd are now closing in on their fifth deal with Italian transfer insider Fabrizio Romano giving his ‘here we go’ confirmation on Friday to Carlos Baleba’s move to Old Trafford.

Romano posted on X: ‘Understand Carlos Baleba to Man United deal fee will be £65m plus £5m add-ons. Cameroon midfielder has authorization to travel from Brighton as Manchester United have booked a medical over the weekend. Here we go, confirmed.’

The Red Devils had a brilliant second half of the season under Michael Carrick last term to finish third in the Premier League and qualify for the Champions League.

That means Man Utd will need a stronger squad as they look to compete in more competitions and they see a left-back as one of the key areas to improve.

Newcastle United’s Lewis Hlla, who had been their top left-back target, is now largely seen as unrealistic unless Man Utd launch a huge offer before the deadline.

A deal for Lewis-Skelly at Arsenal is also seen as unlikely, with Mikel Arteta certain the versatile youngster will remain at the Emirates Stadium, but The Sun are now insisting that Man Utd are ‘still hopeful Arsenal could be persuaded to sell’.

On Lewis-Skelly, who started for the Gunners in their win over Man City in the Community Shield final and their victory over Coventry in the Premier League, The Sun added: ‘Well-placed sources said Lewis-Skelly’s starting role is partly due to Martin Zubimendi’s struggles and the late return of Mikel Merino, who appeared in Spain’s World Cup final victory.

‘Arsenal value Lewis-Skelly north of £50million and the unlikeliness of a club meeting their asking price has fuelled Mikel Arteta’s confidence in keeping the academy graduate.’

Highlighting how much Man Utd like Lewis-Skelly, Romano said last week: “Guys, on Lewis-Skelly, I’m told that the player wants to stay at Arsenal, that the player is in love with Arsenal.

“Then, if Arsenal decide to sell the player and tell him, “Okay, you can go’, in that case, Man United and other clubs could be very interested in the boy.

“Man United like Miles Lewis-Skelly, and let me say, who doesn’t like Miles Lewis-Skelly? Fantastic talent, but at the moment the player absolutely wants to stay at Arsenal, and there is no movement happening.

“If Arsenal, from now to the end of the window, decides to open the door to make money, to make profit, for whatever reason, in that case, United could be one of the clubs interested. But again, it’s important to say that the boy absolutely wants to stay at Arsenal and is happy at Arsenal.”

Man Utd ‘offer’ in for Alejandro Balde

Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde is another option for Man Utd before the transfer deadline on September 1 and Mundo Deportivo (via Sport Witness) insists that the Spain international has ‘received several offers’, one of which is from the Red Devils.

Man Utd continue to wait on an answer from Balde as the Spaniard ‘wants to know firsthand that Barca doesn’t count on him’.