Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has weighed in on Arsenal’s midfield situation, suggesting that the club should prioritize offloading Martin Zubimendi rather than academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly. Reports indicate that the Gunners have considered allowing Lewis-Skelly to depart, with the 19-year-old reportedly being offered to clubs such as Chelsea and Manchester United.
Since his senior debut in 2024, Lewis-Skelly has become a popular figure among the Emirates faithful, particularly for his standout display against Real Madrid during the 2024/25 Champions League campaign. While he logged over 1,300 Premier League minutes that season, his playing time dipped to 698 minutes last term as the club secured the league title. The recent £75 million acquisition of Bruno Guimaraes has further crowded the midfield, fueling speculation about a potential exit for the youngster.
Scholes, however, maintains that Lewis-Skelly remains a superior midfield prospect compared to Zubimendi. The Spanish international, who arrived at Arsenal last summer, faced difficulties late in the season, leading Scholes to argue that Mikel Arteta should look to move him on instead. The former midfielder shared his perspective during an appearance on The Overlap’s Fan Debate.
Should Arsenal choose to sell Zubimendi, there appears to be significant interest from elsewhere. According to reports relayed by DAZN, Chelsea are monitoring the Spaniard as a potential target. This interest is tied to the future of Enzo Fernandez, who has been linked with a move to Manchester City. Although Chelsea set a deadline for a £120 million bid for Fernandez, no formal approach was made by the City camp, despite the player’s reported desire for the transfer.
Chelsea has publicly stated that Fernandez is not for sale following the expiration of their deadline. Nevertheless, should the situation change, the Blues are prepared to pivot toward Zubimendi, who could command a fee in the region of £77 million. Meanwhile, Arsenal is preparing for their upcoming FA Community Shield clash against Manchester City, scheduled to take place in Cardiff this Sunday.
Lewis-Skelly has quickly established himself as a fan favorite at the Emirates since making his senior debut in 2024.
The Gunners have now strengthened in midfield with the addition of Bruno Guimaraes in a deal worth £75 million.
Although they set a deadline for City to submit the £120 million bid required to sign Fernandez, Enzo Maresca and co.
As such, Lewis-Skelly has been linked with the possibility of heading out through the exit door in search of regular minutes.
