Arsenal wonderkid Myles Lewis-Skelly is determined to fight for his place at the Emirates Stadium despite reports linking him with a move to Chelsea or Manchester United before the September 1 transfer deadline.

The 19-year-old, who has been at Arsenal since the age of eight, finished the 2025-26 campaign as a first-choice central midfielder, a Premier League champion, and a starter in the Champions League final. Yet as the summer window nears its close, his future has become the subject of intense speculation.

After speaking to multiple sources familiar with the process, The Athletic reports that Lewis-Skelly is unequivocal about his desire to remain in north London. He is neither seeking nor exploring a move away. The teenager was part of the first wave of players to report for pre-season training and has started three of Arsenal's four friendlies, with coaching staff investing significant time in fine-tuning his understanding of the midfield role.

Bruno Guimaraes Arrival Raises Stakes

The landscape shifted last week when Arsenal completed the £75million ($101m) signing of Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United. The 28-year-old Brazilian is expected to be Mikel Arteta's preferred partner for Declan Rice in central midfield, with Lewis-Skelly and Martin Zubimendi pushing for minutes behind them.

Lewis-Skelly, however, ended last season ahead of Zubimendi in the pecking order after transitioning from left-back to his preferred central midfield position during the run-in. His performances were instrumental in Arsenal securing their first Premier League title since 2004.

The arrival of Guimaraes does not daunt the teenager. Already in his young career, he has demonstrated the willingness — and capability — to fight for his place against more seasoned professionals. Lewis-Skelly signed a long-term contract in the summer of 2025 and, at 19, recognises he is still developing, believing a highly competitive environment is ideal for honing his talents.

Arsenal's Stance: Not Actively Selling, But Flexible

Arsenal maintain they have not actively offered Lewis-Skelly out for transfer. After his impressive end to last season, he is not someone the club set out to sell in this window. The Gunners entered the summer knowing player trading would be a focus, planning to offload several squad members to ensure regulatory compliance and unlock greater spending potential.

Some departures have been completed — Christian Norgaard joined Everton for £7million, while Leandro Trossard moved to Besiktas in a deal that could total €20m (£17.1m, $22.9m). Others, however, have proven more difficult to move on, including Gabriel Jesus, Reiss Nelson and Fabio Vieira. Arsenal would also listen to attractive offers for Gabriel Martinelli or Ethan Nwaneri, but appropriate bids have not materialised.

With the window closing on September 1, Arsenal recognise their approach to sales may have to be flexible. If buyers for the expected departures fail to come forward, they may be willing to entertain offers for a wider group of players — though Lewis-Skelly is not someone they actively want to lose.

Chelsea: Little Room in a Crowded Midfield

Club sources told The Athletic that Lewis-Skelly had been offered to Chelsea, but there is scarcely any room for him in the Blues' squad. Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia, Dario Essugo, Reece James, Valentin Barco and Jordan Henderson — the latter two signed in this window — are already expected to compete for midfield roles. New manager Xabi Alonso also has highly-rated 16-year-olds Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli and Reggie Watson at his disposal after they impressed on the pre-season tour to Australia and East Asia.

The situation at left-back or left wing-back is equally congested, with Jorrel Hato, Marco Palestra and Pep Chavarria all earmarked for that side. A source with understanding of the situation said Chelsea were first made aware of the possibility of signing Lewis-Skelly before the winter window, although Arsenal maintain they have never offered him to anyone. It is hard to see where he would fit in at Stamford Bridge unless there is a host of injuries and/or departures.

Manchester United: Sceptical on Price

Manchester United have also been offered Lewis-Skelly, though Arsenal insist they have not directly offered him to anyone and the player is keen to stay. At Old Trafford, there is scepticism about how much he would cost, with the expectation that £45million would not be enough to prise him away.

United are targeting a new left-back to alternate with Luke Shaw, whose fitness needs to be managed at 31. Lewis-Skelly's ability to operate at both left-back and in midfield would fit the bill, which is also why United rate Lewis Hall of Newcastle United and have looked at Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga.

What Happens Next?

With less than three weeks remaining in the transfer window, the situation remains fluid. Lewis-Skelly's preference is clear — he wants to stay and compete. Arsenal's preference is also clear — they do not want to sell. But the realities of financial compliance and a market that has not fully cooperated with Arsenal's planned departures mean nothing can be ruled out entirely.

For now, the teenager remains a key part of Arteta's pre-season plans, continuing to develop in a midfield position he made his own during Arsenal's title-winning run-in. Whether that remains the case beyond September 1 may depend on factors largely outside his control.