Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly this summer, but his arrival could spell bad news for seven current Red Devils players. The 19-year-old, who can play at left back and in central midfield, has been placed on the transfer list after falling out of favour under Mikel Arteta last season.
Lewis-Skelly has been offered to both United and Chelsea, with Arsenal valuing him at around £45 million. Despite emerging as one of the most exciting talents to come through the Gunners' academy in years, Arsenal are willing to cash in as they look to recoup some of the £75m they spent on Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.
United appear to be his most likely destination, with Michael Carrick's side actively searching for a new midfielder and left back. They had initially identified Lewis Hall as their top target, but Newcastle's refusal to sell has forced them to explore alternatives.
Luke Shaw and Patrick Dorgu face reduced roles
With his contract expiring next year, Luke Shaw's days at Manchester United appear to be numbered. But the arrival of Lewis-Skelly could make what's shaping up to be his final season at Old Trafford a frustrating one, with regular first-team football potentially harder to come by. Shaw would presumably drop to second choice at left back, despite arguably enjoying his most consistent campaign in years. The 31-year-old featured in all 38 Premier League matches last season for the first time in his injury-hit career, making a sudden fall down the pecking order a harsh outcome.
Patrick Dorgu's first-team opportunities could also take a hit following Lewis-Skelly's arrival, even though the Denmark international has recently been operating in a more advanced role. Dorgu originally joined United from Lecce as a wing-back under Ruben Amorim, but his role changed after Carrick took charge, with the 21-year-old increasingly used on the left wing. He can still provide cover at left back, but that versatility may not be enough to guarantee regular football.
Midfield competition for Mainoo and Ugarte
Despite playing most of his senior football as a left back, Lewis-Skelly shone as a central midfielder at the back end of last season. That could be particularly bad news for Kobbie Mainoo, who was handed something of a new lease on life after Carrick's arrival and was restored to the starting XI. Mainoo's place in the team is far from guaranteed, though, as we saw under Amorim, and Lewis-Skelly could pose a serious threat to his position if he can replicate the form he showed in midfield for Arsenal.
Manuel Ugarte already looks to have fallen out of Manchester United's first-team picture, and the arrival of Lewis-Skelly could be the final nail in the coffin for the midfielder's Old Trafford career. Carrick's side have already strengthened their midfield with the arrivals of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans this summer, while Lewis-Skelly would provide another option capable of playing centrally. With plenty of alternatives at the manager's disposal, Ugarte could find himself pushed even further down the pecking order.
Defensive log-jam and youth pathway concerns
Though predominantly a right back, Diogo Dalot's first-team opportunities could also take a knock if Lewis-Skelly signs. The Portugal international is capable of operating on either flank, but his chances of starting at left back or left wing back would be severely reduced with Lewis-Skelly and Shaw potentially ahead of him in the pecking order. Dalot's main competitor for minutes is Noussair Mazraoui, but Lewis-Skelly's arrival would create something of a log-jam in defence.
Then there is the impact Lewis-Skelly could have on two of United's most promising young left-back prospects, Diego Leon and Harry Amass. Both youngsters are regarded as players with the potential to break into the first team, but a move for Lewis-Skelly could make that pathway considerably more difficult. The Arsenal star's arrival would give United an established young option at left-back, potentially leaving Leon and Amass to battle for scraps or wait even longer for their opportunity.
