Arsenal Transfer News
United and Chelsea pass on Arsenal’s Lewis-Skelly amid uncertain future
United and Chelsea have both turned away from Myles Lewis-Skelly as Arsenal weigh their next move.
Manchester United and Chelsea have both reportedly declined the chance to sign Arsenal left back Myles Lewis-Skelly, leaving the teenager’s situation in north London looking increasingly uncertain.
Lewis-Skelly has already shown enough to attract attention. He started the Champions League final, but the match ended in heartbreak for the newly crowned English champions. Even so, Arsenal’s long-term picture still appears positive, though perhaps less so for the 19-year-old.
Recent reports said Arsenal placed a $60.8 million (£45 million) valuation on the England international and made him available to United and Chelsea. According to The Telegraph, both clubs quickly turned down the opportunity. There is also a “strong feeling” the defender has been offered to other clubs as Arsenal continue to move their homegrown talent, with any departure producing pure profit.
Chelsea’s refusal is understandable given their recent business. Marc Cucurella has left the starting left-back role this summer, but the club have already secured Pep Chavarría as his replacement. The former Rayo Vallecano player signed a five-year deal on Wednesday and joined Xabi Alonso’s project for a fee of around $28.8 million. Chelsea have now spent more than $400 million this summer, bringing in Morgan Rogers, Maxence Lacroix and Geovany Quenda, among others.
United remain less active in the market, though they are still looking for a left back and a third midfielder after already signing Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. Lewis-Skelly could have covered both positions, but the club seem to be waiting on Newcastle United left back Lewis Hall instead. They have also been linked with Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga, who can operate in midfield and at left back.
Lewis-Skelly’s breakout 2024-25 season was followed by a reduced role last term. Mikel Arteta preferred Piero Hincapié at left back, while Riccardo Calafiori also took minutes in that area. That pushed the teenager into midfield, where he even kept Martín Zubimendi on the bench for the Champions League final and started alongside Declan Rice.
Arsenal
Arteta Signals Arsenal Are Still in the Market After Vinícius Júnior Miss
Arteta says Arsenal are still “trying” to add elite players after missing out on Vinícius Júnior.
Mikel Arteta has made clear that Arsenal are still searching for top-level additions after missing out on Vinícius Júnior from Real Madrid.
The Arsenal manager said the club are “trying” to strengthen further, even after the arrival of Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle United gave the squad a timely lift. But for Arteta, the work is not done.
“That’s what we’re trying to do,” Arteta said after Sunday’s defeat to Borussia Dortmund when asked whether fans can expect more new signings.
“It has to be the right player in the market to make us much better. We are very much looking forward to that.”
Arsenal remain in a difficult position as the summer window moves towards its final weeks. They have pursued several targets openly, including Rogers and Vinícius Jr., yet the club are still not close to completing another deal.
A left winger continues to be a key priority. The departure of Leandro Trossard to Beşiktaş was balanced by the arrival of Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge, but Arsenal still appear to want a higher-level option in that area. An upgrade on Gabriel Martinelli would, in the view of the club, raise the side to another level.
Barcola is still available, although he is expected to be extremely expensive. Other possible options, including AC Milan’s Rafael Leão and Athletic Club’s Nico Williams, are also mentioned as players who may yet be available.
Defensive reinforcements are also under consideration. Arteta has already said it will be some time before William Saliba returns from a back injury, while Jurriën Timber is dealing with a groin problem and will miss the start of the season.
Ezri Konsa is understood to sit high on Arsenal’s shortlist. The Guardian reported that an opening bid has already been turned down, with Villa standing firm at $81 million (£60 million).
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Guimarães outlines Arsenal appeal after move from Newcastle United
Guimarães says Arsenal’s midfield suits him and recalls Rice’s message before joining.
Bruno Guimarães has set out what he expects to add to Arsenal after completing his move from Newcastle United, describing himself as the club’s “warrior” in midfield.
The Brazilian made clear that the prospect of linking up with Declan Rice was part of the attraction. Rice had already reached out before the transfer was finalised, and Guimarães said the message made an impression.
“Rice sent me a message: ‘Come here and please no more fights, now we’re friends!’ I was happy he messaged me,” Guimarães told Arsenal.com . “In my point of view, [the Arsenal midfield] is one of the best in Europe. Everyone is an amazing player.
“Every time when I play against [Arsenal] it was very tough. They keep the ball, they defend like one. I think that combination is the way I like to play as well, and of course, joining the winners of the league is always a big opportunity.”
He also explained the qualities he expects to bring to the side, stressing energy, control and commitment.
“I can pass the ball, run a lot and play like a warrior, I’ll never give up. I will try to help the team, [I’m] good with the ball, composed, very calm, and sometimes I can score some goals.”
Guimarães will wear the No. 39 shirt at Arsenal, a number tied closely to his family. He revealed in 2023 that 39 was the taxi number used by his father in Rio de Janeiro, and that he has kept it for that reason throughout his career.
He said: “It means everything to me,” Guimarães explained. “I have the tattoo of the 39 as well. My father was a taxi driver in Brazil for more than 20 years. The taxi, of course, gave me everything for my family, the place we live, the food, my clothes, everything.
“So when I got the chance to sign to a top club in Brazil, I asked my father which number I should take and he said 39. I was upset a little bit because I wanted to take the 97. He said: ‘No, no, take the 39. The 39 gave you everything.’”
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Hopkinson says Newcastle accepted a record offer in Guimarães talks
Hopkinson explains Newcastle’s stance as Arsenal edge closer to a deal for Bruno Guimarães.
Newcastle United chief executive David Hopkinson has acknowledged that the club ended up satisfied with the scale of the agreement as Bruno Guimarães moved closer to Arsenal.
Hopkinson made clear that Newcastle never set out to part with their captain. “We didn’t want to sell Bruno,” Hopkinson confessed. “It wasn’t in the plan to sell Bruno. None of us, or ownership, wanted to sell Bruno.
“He’s our captain, he was very, very important to us and the debate over his price … it’s a world-record fee for a player of his age.
“What we had to weigh up was, very respectfully from Bruno with his behavior towards us, very emotionally as well, effectively told us he wanted to leave and move on.
“That doesn’t mean he can go but it certainly plays a part in what our thinking is when we hit a certain range of number. But there’s no point in saying it was part of our strategy and was in our thinking this summer—it wasn’t.
“But we have got to be flexible and react to things that happen. It might have been in our plan to sign one player but we didn’t get him so we move on to another. We can only be honest about that.”
The negotiation was said to have developed after a period of discussions through intermediaries, alongside uncertainty over his value. Early reports suggested Arsenal believed he could be signed for less than $81 million (£60 million), while Newcastle set an asking price of $135 million (£100 million). The eventual deal landed between those figures.
“It was not the fee that I think Arsenal had hoped to pay and of course we would have liked an even higher number,” Hopkinson explained.
“But I think you’re dealing with sophisticated actors on both sides and that’s what negotiation looks like.
