Myles Lewis-Skelly has already shown Michael Carrick he is exactly the kind of signing Manchester United need to make with his elite mindset.
The 19-year-old has been a long-term target of United's since breaking into the Arsenal starting line-up during the 2024/25 campaign. The Independent reports that the Reds are now investigating whether an ambitious deal for the Gunners academy graduate is possible this summer.
Despite being a midfielder by trade, he initially emerged as a left-back following Riccardo Calafiori's injury in late 2024 and made the position his own, playing crucial games both domestically and in Europe before earning his first caps for England.
Arteta's change of direction
The possibility of a move away from his boyhood club emerged last season when Gunners boss Mikel Arteta decided to go in a different direction in terms of his favoured left-backs, opting for traditional defenders with more pace and physical attributes. The arrival of Piero Hincapie and Arteta's preference for Calafiori saw Lewis-Skelly's minutes drastically decrease last season as he found himself out of the team for long stretches.
Reports emerged of United's interest in signing the youngster earlier this year but he ended up staying put in north London. Lewis-Skelly's patience was rewarded late in the season as he was deployed in his favoured central-midfield position for the first time against Fulham, where he played a starring role, and continued to feature prominently, even starting the Champions League final against PSG.
Legacy and trophies
His top mentality, remaining strong in adversity and never letting his application drop in training, was crucial to his strong end to the campaign - something United boss Carrick is well aware of. Last summer, when Lewis-Skelly signed a contract extension until 2030, he said he was focused on the long term, telling Arsenal's official website: "I want a legacy."
He continued with 12 telling words: "I want to win everything there is to win in the game," before adding: "I want to win trophies on the biggest stages whilst being a person that's always learning and stays grounded, which is so important."
Resurgence and future
Lewis-Skelly did just that by playing a role in Arsenal's Premier League title success last season. Now, he is enjoying a resurgence as one of the brightest midfield talents in England.
His sheer quality, along with the fact he has the right character and belief to succeed at Old Trafford, means United's renewed interest is of little surprise. But his aforementioned words also indicate he will likely stay and fight for his place at Arsenal.
Lewis-Skelly's strong recent displays under Arteta in pre-season suggest he could well play an important role this term. That means a potential move to United is perhaps unlikely, even with the Gunners' pursuit of another midfielder - Bruno Guimaraes - who he will have to compete with.
It remains to be seen whether Old Trafford chiefs want to test their rivals' resolve. The club bolstered their midfield this summer with the signings of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos for a combined fee of £83million, with a third midfield addition also on the cards.
