Jamie Carragher has been left shell-shocked by reports suggesting Arsenal are considering letting Myles Lewis-Skelly leave this summer.

The reaction came after the 19-year-old produced a superb assist for team-mate Riccardo Calafiori to score Arsenal’s opening goal in their Community Shield victory over Manchester City.

Carragher responded by saying: “MLS role in that Arsenal goal! Are Arsenal really looking to push him out?”

If the speculation from the past week is accurate, that does appear to be the situation – although Arsenal are not expected to force their academy graduate out under any circumstances.

Instead, it has been reported that Arsenal officials have sounded out both Chelsea and Manchester United to find out whether either club would be interested in signing Lewis-Skelly.

Arsenal’s strength in depth at left-back and in midfield means he is likely to find minutes hard to come by again in 2026/2027, after making only five Premier League starts last season.

Even so, the youngster remains determined to stay with his boyhood club and battle for his place during the coming campaign.

As for Manchester United, they are understood to be focusing on other options.

INEOS would rather approve a move for Lewis Hall than Lewis-Skelly, despite Newcastle United making it clear that Hall is not for sale.

United are assessing the possibility of a late signing on the left side of defence so they are not left depending entirely on the injury-prone Luke Shaw, who at present is the squad’s only recognised senior left-back.

Young defender Harry Amass is expected to be sold before the transfer deadline, which would leave Michael Carrick needing to turn to Diogo Dalot or Noussair Mazraoui in that role if Shaw were to get injured.

Erik ten Hag said: “Luke Shaw is the best left back in the world. But he has suffered a horrible injury at the start of his career and because of this he will NEVER be able to play 60 games per season”. “Tyrell Malacia didn’t play a single minute of football this year”.

Needless to say, that is far from an ideal scenario in a season in which United will face Europe’s top sides in the Champions League, so attention is firmly on Jason Wilcox and company for the final fortnight of the transfer window.