There are obvious similarities between the trajectories of Kobbie Mainoo and Myles Lewis-Skelly, and not just because West Ham United are reportedly eyeing both the Manchester United midfielder and Arsenal’s fresh-faced utility man.
With the 2026 World Cup now only seven months away, two of the brightest young Englishmen of their generation could hardly have picked a worse time to fall out of favour.
West Ham reportedly offered Kobbie Mainoo a starting role at the London Stadium as they try and position themselves as the saviour to his England hopes. Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly is a January target, too, according to Caught Offside.
Alongside Fulham and Nottingham Forest, West Ham United are standing patiently at the front of the queue should Mikel Arteta let the Hale End graduate out on loan in January.
But, while Ruben Amorim is determined to keep Mainoo at Old Trafford, former Hammers boss Alan Pardew believes Arteta will be delivering a similar message to Lewis-Skelly at the Emirates.
Alan Pardew pessimistic about West Ham United’s Myles Lewis-Skelly hopes
The teenager has played only 87 minutes of Premier League football this season. Five more than Mainoo, yes. But not enough to keep him in Thomas Tuchel’s preferred 23.
Lewis-Skelly is stuck behind Riccardo Calafiori at Arsenal, and has been usurped by another utility man at international level in Manchester City’s own midfielder-turned-full-back Nico O’Reilly.
When asked if he can envisage a spell away from North London for Lewis-Skelly, though, Pardew responded with a firm; ‘I don’t think so’.
“It is a problem,” Pardew tells talkSPORT. “His kid has a great personality and he’s a great footballer, no doubt about that.
“[But] one of the key successes of back fours sometimes is to play centre-backs at full-back. Calafiori is doing that job. It gives you extra height, more power, they naturally defend narrower. That is why [Arsenal] are not conceding goals.”
Lewis-Skelly has lost his place to Riccardo Calafiori under Mikel Arteta
Pardew draws comparisons with the Chelsea side who famously conceded only 15 times en route to the Premier League title in 2004/05. William Gallas played much of his football under Jose Mourinho at left-back, despite being a centre-half by trade.
Further forward in midfield, Lewis-Skelly also faces renewed competition in the shape of summer signing Martin Zubimendi.
“I don’t see him playing many games,” adds Pardew, who led the Hammers to the Premier League and the FA Cup final between 2003 and 2006.
“The one beauty is the amount of competitions Arsenal are still in. He might still be able to get 20, 25 games. I think if he got that, Thomas will take him. I would like to think he would.
“He would be a great addition [for England]. He brings an exuberance that only a young player can bring, and an ambition that is not knocked out of him.
“It must be so difficult for him, his agent and his family in January because they want him to play. You’re knocking on the door and Arteta will have to give him the news of, ‘I’m afraid we are trying to win three, four competitions here son, and we need you’.
“The success that has come really nice and early in his career is great. He’s got a great history already at Arsenal. But the fact that it does seem Calafiori has got this position nailed down. That does leave [Lewis-Skelly] with a problem.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt Arteta thinks he’s a real prospect. [But] in his mind, because he played so well last year, he will be very disappointed where he is right now.”
Thomas Tuchel explains his recent England omissions
A source told Hammers News this week that West Ham are concerned about the upcoming African Cup of Nations. Malick Diouf and Aaron Wan-Bissaka will be on AFCON duty, after all, depriving Nuno of his first-choice full-backs.
A footballer with the tactical flexibility of Lewis-Skelly, then, would come in very handy indeed.
“It is about competition and performance. The door is always open for guys who perform on a high level regularly,” Tuchel said ahead of England’s clash with Serbia on Wednesday.
“Myles, Ruben [Loftus-Cheek] and Morgan [Gibbs-White] got out-performed by O’Reilly, Alex Scott and Jude Bellingham in their positions. Myles simply needs more starts, more minutes.
“Now came a time when O’Reilly had so many starts in that position, so he is slightly ahead for this camp.”
The aforementioned Mainoo was also omitted again.
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