Manchester United still hopeful of signing Arsenal’s Lewis-Skelly despite Arteta’s ‘100%’ stay guarantee

Arsenal value Lewis-Skelly at £50m-plus — United hope that price tag could force a sale

Manchester United have not given up on signing Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly before the transfer window shuts on September 1 — even as Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta declared himself “100 per cent” certain the 19-year-old would remain at the Emirates Stadium, according to The Sun and the Express.

United manager Michael Carrick has been seeking reinforcement at left-back all summer, having already been rebuffed in attempts to sign Lewis Hall from Newcastle. Lewis-Skelly — who can play left-back and in central midfield — fits the profile precisely. Well-placed sources told The Sun that United remain “still hopeful Arsenal could be persuaded to sell.”

Their hope rests on one condition: price. Arsenal are willing to part with the teenager, but only if a club meets a valuation north of £50 million — a figure United are reluctant to match. Arteta’s confidence in keeping Lewis-Skelly is directly tied to that price tag acting as a natural deterrent.

The teenager’s recent performances have complicated United’s pursuit. Lewis-Skelly started Arsenal’s 3-0 Community Shield victory over Manchester City — contributing an assist — and retained his place for Friday’s 3-0 Premier League opener against Coventry City. Well-placed sources note, however, that his starting role is partly circumstantial: Martin Zubimendi has struggled to adapt since arriving from Real Sociedad, while Mikel Merino only recently returned after playing in Spain’s World Cup final victory.

Lewis-Skelly signed a new contract at Arsenal just over a year ago, declaring: “I want a legacy here” — words that would ring hollow if he crossed the divide to Old Trafford. Arteta reinforced that bond publicly, saying: “The players that have been raised in our system, and they feel that love and that connection with the club, bring something else — there’s no question about that.”

With just over a week remaining in the window, United face a familiar dilemma: pay Arsenal’s premium or walk away from their primary left-back target for the second time this summer.