Mikel Arteta just sent Chelsea packing in the transfer window
Myles Lewis-Skelly has recently been linked with Chelsea. However, Mikel Arteta has dismissed talk of this transfer happening.
On X, Fabrizio Romano quoted Areta: "Myles Lewis-Skelly STAYS. I am 100% sure."
Lewis-Skelly came through the ranks as a left-back at Arsenal. However, he has recently been used more as a defensive midfielder. Speculation about his potential exit grew after the Gunners signed Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United.
However, Lewis-Skelly started alongside Giumaraes in the Community Shield victory over Manchester City. The Arsenal player even set up Riccardo Calafiori in the 3-0 win. Calafiori is now the Gunners' first-choice left-back. Piero Hincapié has also joined the club permanently from Bayer Leverkusen, which will limited opportunites for Lewis-Skelly to play full-back.
Declan Rice is expected to start alongside Giumaraes for Arsenal this season. Despite his star performance against City, Lewis-Skelly will likely be a backup option. The Gunners also have Martin Zubimendi as a defensive midfielder, who Chelsea have also been linked with.
Does Chelsea really need Myles Lewis-Skelly?
Chelsea already has a bloated squad, so their priorities should be letting players go to make Xabi Alonso's job in training easier.
Moises Caicedo is arguably the best defensive midfielder in the world. Therefore, Lewis-Skelly would not start ahead of him. Alongside Caicedo, this season looks to be Enzo Fernandez. However, there is still speculation that he could join City despite Chelsea's deadline for selling him passing.
Reece James, who, like Lewis-Skelly, has been converted from full-back to midfield, will also feature in the middle of the park for the Blues in the upcoming season. However, the Chelsea captain is injury-prone, so Alonso will need to manage his minutes.
Then Chelsea also has Dario Essugo and Romeo Lavia as other defensive-midfield options. In central midfield, the club also has new signings Jordan Henderson and Valentin Barco. Therefore, there is not really space for Lewis-Skelly right now.
Chelsea did lose Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid this summer. However, they have replaced him at left-back with Pep Chavarria. They also have Jorrel Hato as an option at left-back. Caleb Wiley and Denner are two other options for the Blues in the position too. Therefore, Chelsea are already well stacked at left-back too, so it is not as if they need Lewis-Skelly to feature there.
Who could Chelsea sign instead of Lewis-Skelly?
It is in BlueCo's nature to spend and spend on new players. Chelsea are still being linked with other midfielders. They will not get Lewis-Skelly this summer, but Zubimendi from Arsenal could still be a possibility. He performed well for the Gunners last season, so he would be disappointed that they have replaced him with Guimaraes.
There is also reported interest in Lamine Camara of AS Monaco. However, the Blues will face competition for his services from other Premier League sides, including Brighton & Hove Albion, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace. All of these clubs will be able to offer a greater chance of first-team football. Too many of Chelsea's recent signings have ended up frozen out, and Camara would not want that to happen to him.
Another defensive midfielder who is on Chelsea's radar is Marc Bernal of Barçelona. He is just 19, but has already played 35 times for Barça. With City selling Rodri to the La Liga side, Bernal's opportunities could be limited this season. He has been linked with going the opposite way to Rodri too.
There is also Alex Scott of AFC Bournemouth, who has been linked with City. Scott appeared to be the player Chelsea would go for if Fernandez were to join Enzo Maresca's side. However, with the deadline the Blues set for Fernandez's transfer passing, it could be that City go for Scott instead.
