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Liverpool have been strongly urged to step in and hijack any move for promising Arsenal midfielder Myles Lewis-Skelly. The versatile teenager has recently been offered to Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester United, and there is an increasing feeling that he could be an ideal option to provide much-needed competition on the left side of the defence at Anfield.

Arsenal are willing to sell within the Premier League.

According to talkSPORT, Arsenal have made Lewis-Skelly available to Premier League rivals Manchester United and Chelsea. The Gunners are aiming to recover funds after completing the £75 million signing of Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle last week. The 19-year-old now faces an uncertain future, with Guimaraes joining Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino in Arsenal's midfield department.

Peterborough United owner Darragh MacAnthony believes Liverpool should join the race in order to offer competition for Milos Kerkez. MacAnthony said: "I love him, I think he's a great, young player. Why has he not been offered to Liverpool? Someone said, 'What's he worth?' I said, 'Anywhere from £40-60million for a player of that age that's English.'"

Competition for a defensive role

Kerkez is expected to start the new season as first-choice left-back ahead of Kostas Tsimikas, who is keen to fight for his place. Even so, MacAnthony feels Lewis-Skelly would be an important addition for Liverpool.

Asked whether he would take him at Anfield, MacAnthony replied: "All day long. We need competition for our left-back. No disrespect to Tsimikas, but not for me. And, he can play in midfield, we've seen him play in that role in midfield..." When it was put to him that midfield is his strongest position, he answered: "Correct. Liverpool are crying out for that type of player who's got those defensive skills but also still has, technically, the attacking ability as well."

Frustration over a possible exit

The situation has also prompted questions over the emotional effect on the player, who made only five Premier League starts last season. Presenter Max Scott asked MacAnthony: "I know that you look at the game from the perspective of an owner and a businessman, and you can sometimes, sort of, remove yourself from the emotion of the game, and understandably so. But if you're Lewis-Skelly, an Arsenal fan brought through the academy, you proved yourself last season, broke back into the team, been an integral part, and now you're hearing you're offered to other Premier League clubs... Is that just the ruthlessness of the game, or can you understand he might be frustrated by it?"

What happens next?

Manchester United and Chelsea must now decide whether to turn their interest in Lewis-Skelly into a formal move, with his expected valuation believed to be around £45m, before the transfer window shuts. While Michael Carrick continues to assess defensive targets for his squad, Liverpool could still follow MacAnthony's advice and enter talks to strengthen their options ahead of the upcoming campaign.