Myles Lewis-Skelly: Arsenal defender being monitored by Premier League clubs as Thomas Tuchel sends World Cup warning | Football News
England manager Thomas Tuchel has told Myles Lewis-Skelly he needs more game time if he is to make the World Cup squad as Premier League clubs monitor his situation at Arsenal.
Lewis-Skelly was left out of the squad to face Serbia and Albania, with Tuchel saying that while he is a great character and a valuable member of the team, “it’s not enough to be a good tourist”.
The 19-year-old has played just 87 minutes of Premier League football so far this season, seemingly losing his place as Arsenal’s first-choice left-back to Riccardo Calafiori.
A number of Premier League clubs are monitoring the situation around Lewis-Skelly given he has made just seven substitute appearances in the competition this season.
But Arsenal are not looking to sell any players in the January transfer window as they compete for four major trophies – and Lewis-Skelly recently signed a new five-year contract.
There are also no pressing financial constraints for Arsenal, but if they were to sell, Lewis-Skelly would represent 100% profit in terms of profit rules and sustainability. (PSR), because he went through the club’s training center.
Lewis-Skelly was one of last season’s standout stars, starting regularly for Arsenal in the second half of the campaign and scoring on his England debut against Albania in March.
Myles Lewis-Skelly has only started in Arsenal’s Champions League and Carabao Cup matches this season.
He won five more caps for the national team, starting five of their last eight games, but Tuchel favored Nico O’Reilly for his latest team after his impressive performances at left-back for Manchester City.
“Myles was a very good teammate and played for us during the last World Cup qualifying camp in Riga, as did Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Morgan Gibbs-White,” Tuchel said after the squad announcement.
“But I said last time that there is an element to it, which is about competition and performance, and that the door is always open to guys who consistently perform at a high level.
“Myles, Ruben and Morgan were outclassed by O’Reilly, Alex Scott and Jude Bellingham in their positions.
“Myles just needs more starts, more minutes.
“Now it’s come to a point where O’Reilly had so many starts at that position, so he’s slightly ahead for this camp.”