Myles Lewis-Skelly must be Everton's long-term James Garner replacement after Arsenal masterclass
Everton must be doing absolutely everything to sign Myles Lewis-Skelly, as rumours continue to swirl around James Garner's future.
Despite putting pen to paper on a new contract in January, extending his stay until the summer of 2030, there remain question marks over whether or not he sees out those years at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Aston Villa and Manchester United have both been linked with the 25-year-old midfield maestro, and it would be smart of the Toffees to get ahead of any potential exit by planning for the worst-case scenario.
Everton fans could be left underwhelmed by the club's transfers once again, but if David Moyes is to take the team even further next season, The Friedkin Group simply have to back him in the market.
Myles Lewis-Skelly goes from zero to hero at Arsenal
Mick Brown revealed to Football Insider in March that Everton would consider a deal for Lewis-Skelly ahead of the summer window, and the transfer chiefs should have seen everything needed.
The 19-year-old was left out in the dark by Mikel Arteta at Arsenal. That was until the teenager was adapted into a makeshift defensive midfielder, and now he looks undroppable.
With Martin Zubimendi being dropped to the bench, Arteta turned to his academy product for the Gunners' Champions League final against PSG on Saturday, 30 May, but he couldn't lead the Gunners to a win in 90 minutes.
| Myles Lewis-Skelly vs PSG | Stats [FotMob] |
| Minutes played | 90 |
| Touches | 24 |
| Passing accuracy | 80% (12/15) |
| Dispossessed | 0 |
| Tackles | 1 |
| Interceptions | 1 |
| Ground duels won | 50% (3/6) |
| Fouls won | 2 |
He put in a dazzling display at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, stopping pretty much everything coming through the centre of the pitch, frustrating some of the biggest stars in world football for much of the game.
Who will Everton be battling for Lewis-Skelly's signature?
Of course, there is every chance that the Gunners and Arteta could do a U-turn on Lewis-Skelly's future, so the youngster remaining in North London cannot be fully ruled out this summer.
Mick Brown also told Football Insider that Man United want Lewis-Skelly, seeing him as a long-term replacement for Luke Shaw, but the player appears to be loving life in the centre of midfield.
If Garner does leave Merseyside this summer, there will be a huge incentive for Arsenal's No.49 to choose Moyes' project, with the promise of plenty of minutes at the Hill Dickinson.
The same cannot be said if he remains at the Emirates. The Gunners are likely to do even more business ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, and that would only scupper Lewis-Skelly's chance of a regular spot.