Rio Ferdinand has urged Manchester United and Chelsea to 'get the cheque book out' and secure the services of Myles Lewis-Skelly from Arsenal.
Reportedly, the Premier League champions have offered the 19-year-old England international to both clubs as they assess potential transfers.
Lewis-Skelly experienced a shaky start to the 2025/26 season but broke into the first team during a decisive phase of the campaign. The midfielder played a crucial role in helping Arsenal clinch the Premier League title and reach the Champions League final.
Despite his increasing importance to Mikel Arteta's plans, it is believed the Gunners are open to offers following the recent signing of Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle for £75 million.
Ferdinand, a big fan of Lewis-Skelly, firmly believes both clubs should jump at the chance to add him to their squads.
'If I were at Manchester United, I'd be saying: hit that green button and buy him, take him right now,' Ferdinand stated on his YouTube channel.
'What a player, top-notch. He was an integral part of the team when he was brought in towards the end of the season. He contributed to Arsenal's league triumph, he was fantastic, stepped up and delivered.'
'If he's on the market and a decent price is being asked, you have to go for it. A good price, in my eyes, is around £60 to £70 million. If that's the case, get the cheque book out, shell out the cash and sign him. No questions asked, I’d take him.'
'He’s young, a massive talent, can play in two positions, and I think mentally he’s got the right stuff. Left-back is not a problem for United because we have Luke Shaw who played a lot of games last season and remains in shape.'
'But if he does get injured, we don’t have a ready-made left-back in reserve. Patrick Dorgu is more of a left winger at the moment, and Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot are not natural left-backs. So that’s an area where I think you could bring someone like Myles Lewis-Skelly in, and he can definitely play, mate.'
Since making his first-team debut in 2024, Lewis-Skelly has made 75 appearances for his boyhood club Arsenal. The teenager has also played six matches for the England national team but was not included in Thomas Tuchel's squad for the recent World Cup.
Former Arsenal striker Jeremy Aliadiere believes Lewis-Skelly should contemplate his future at the Emirates due to fierce competition within Arteta’s squad.
'My heart would obviously say he’s an Arsenal boy through and through, and you never want to see players like that leave the club,' he told Metro via Spinbit.
'It’s frustrating for me every time I see one of the academy lads having to leave. I get upset every single time because I’ve been in that position, but putting myself in Myles’ shoes, he needs to move if he wants to get playing time.'
'I know he had an incredible finish to last season in the last five to ten games, including the Champions League final, but don’t forget that for three-quarters of the season, he barely touched the ball. He didn’t get a minute. He wasn’t brought on. He didn’t play.'
Aliadiere continued:
'For a young lad with his talent and age, he needs to think about his future at some point, about playing every week and being a starter at the highest level.'
'And now with Guimaraes arriving, where does he fit in the hierarchy? They still have Sobi Mendi, so where is Myles going to be getting his minutes and game time? So as much as I’d love to see him move to Manchester United, I genuinely think for his own career, he may have to consider a club change.'
