Manchester United might be enjoying a rare breather from the action right now, but the headlines haven’t stopped coming.
Michael Carrick’s side won’t return to the pitch until April 13, a full 24 days after their last outing at Bournemouth. That 2-2 draw on the south coast kept them third in the Premier League table, one point clear of Aston Villa in fourth and with a handy six point cushion to Liverpool in fifth.
Leeds at Old Trafford awaits after the international break, followed by a trip to Stamford Bridge that could prove pivotal in the race for Champions League football.
But while the players are away on international duty, the off field news has been coming thick and fast.
Rooney’s season over
Kai Rooney has been dealt a cruel blow, the Manchester United academy starlet has confirmed his season is finished.
The teenager, son of United icon Wayne, took to Instagram Stories on Thursday with the kind of update no young player wants to make.
“Disappointed to be out for the rest of the season. Back stronger next pre season,” he wrote.
It’s a gut punch for the 17 year old, who made his Old Trafford debut earlier this season in the FA Youth Cup. Six league appearances for the Under 18s brought two goals and an assist, offering a glimpse of the talent that runs in the bloodline.
Wayne Rooney will no doubt be feeling every bit of that disappointment alongside his boy. For Kai, the focus now shifts to getting right for pre season.
Lewis Skelly emerges as shock left back target
United are eyeing a summer move for Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis Skelly, according to football.london and the timing couldn’t be more interesting.
The England international has seen his game time at the Emirates dry up this season following the arrival of Piero Hincapie. The Bayer Leverkusen loanee has impressed, and his move is expected to be made permanent in the summer, leaving Lewis Skelly’s pathway suddenly looking a whole lot more complicated.
Last season, the 19 year old made 23 league appearances for the Gunners, many of them from the start. This time around? Just 312 minutes in the competition.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta addressed the situation earlier this month, though his words did little to suggest a guaranteed route back into the side.
“Every season is different,” Arteta said. “He had very good moments in this season. He had other moments when he hasn’t played in that much.”
For United, the appeal is obvious. They’re in the market for a left back this summer, Luke Shaw’s fitness remains a rolling concern, and there’s precious little cover behind him. Lewis Skelly, who broke through as a midfielder in the academy but has made the left back role his own, offers versatility that Michael Carrick values highly.
United already have teenage full back Diego Leon on the books, signed from Cerro Porteno in 2025, but the Paraguayan has been largely confined to the Under 21s this term. A more established option is needed.
Whether Arsenal would even consider selling to a direct rival is another question entirely. But with Lewis Skelly’s minutes drying up and United’s need growing, it’s a storyline that’s not going away any time soon.
