Man United handed JJ Gabriel transfer deadline as European giants circle for move

Manchester United youngster JJ Gabriel has made it clear he wants to leave the club

Manchester United have two weeks to find a resolution with JJ Gabriel if they want to keep the highly-rated 15-year-old at the club. The youngster shocked the club earlier this month by asking to have his registration terminated by the United hierarchy.

The 15-year-old had been in line to make his Manchester United debut and feature against Brighton in the Carabao Cup, but was left out of the squad following the bombshell.

He hasn’t featured for any of the United youth sides since then, and has reportedly jetted off to Spain to hold talks with Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Gabriel turns 16 in two weeks time, on October 6 and he’ll then be eligible to be legally represented by an agent.

He’ll also be able to join a foreign club using his Irish passport and the Daily Mail claims super-agents Ali Barat and Jorge Mendes are keen on snapping up the youngster.

United are still hopeful that they’ll be able to convince the youngster they’re the right place for his development, though the club’s recent decline is said to be the main driving force behind the youngster looking for a move elsewhere.

The Old Trafford hierarchy are unwilling to bow to demands and rip up the youngster’s current contract, which expires at the end of the season.

If United were to terminate the youngster’s contract, they could earn as little as £300,000 in compensation when he could be worth millions of pounds in the years to come.

There’s also the caveat that Gabriel could launch an appeal with the Premier League or FIFA, to allow him to be released from United.

Especially if a lucrative offer from Barcelona or Real Madrid is on the table, and because of his age, it would be very difficult for Man United to stand in the family’s way of relocating.

There are also FIFA rules with specific criteria over a young player’s education, though home-schooling would offer interested club’s a way round such regulation.

Gabriel has not been at United for the last two weeks and it’s very likely that the player will leave the club, though the club have made it clear the youngster’s welfare is paramount.