Arsenal remain ‘very calm’ in the wake of Real Madrid’s interest in Myles Lewis-Skelly.
The Hale End Academy graduate enjoyed a stellar breakthrough season last term during we established himself as a first team regular.
Despite the presence of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Riccardo Calafiori and KieranTierney, Lewis-Skelly finished his maiden campaign as the club’s firstchoice left-back.
Indeed, the teenager’s rapid rise was rewarded with a full England debut in March and he looks likely, even at this early stage, to feature in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup plans.
With his contract set to expire next summer, however, Europe’s leading clubs have begun to sense an opportunity.
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Real Madrid, who Lewis-Skelly excelled against in a Champions League quarter-final, are among his many admirers and they are watching his situation with intent.
The Spanish giants have made a habit of tempting players with Premier League experience to sign as free agents in recent years with the likes of Trent Alexnader-Arnold and Antonio Rudiger prime examples.
Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate and another Arsenal player, William Saliba, are also on Real’s radar but their chances of landing Lewis-Skelly look remote, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Arsenal began renewal talks as far back as January and although they failed to reach an agreement, all the signs point to Lewis-Skelly extending his stay with his boyhood club.
The Gunners are also hopeful of securing the services of Ethan Nwaneri who made an equally eye-catching breakthrough last season.
Currently on international duty with the England Under-21s, Nwaneri impressed while he deputised for Bukayo Saka, who spent three months on the sidelines following surgery on his hamstring back in November.
New sporting director Andrea Berta is working on a number of new contracts and has already resolved the future of Gabriel Magalhaes who penned a new deal last week.
‘I arrived here as a young player and after almost five years I’m so happy and I’ve learned a lot,’ he said.
‘I’m so proud of myself, it’s an amazing journey, and I’m so happy to continue it. I hope I win some trophies with this club, because I love this club and my family loves the club, too.
‘Arsenal is an amazing club and I’m so proud to sign a new contract. I love this club, I love the supporters, my teammates, I love this stadium. I’m so proud and thank you for all the support. We continue together for the future.’
