Man Utd fear JJ Gabriel is set for Man City transfer after bombshell contract termination request

MANCHESTER UNITED fear that JJ Gabriel could move to neighbours City. Gabriel, 15, has asked to leave after he was not involved in United’s opening Champions League match against Sabah last week. JJ Gabriel has handed in a request to leave Man Utd Credit: Alamy But club sources fear Gabriel could switch to Man City Credit: Alamy The club had planned to include Gabriel in their matchday squad in the League Cup third round against Brighton on Wednesday evening amid the possibility he could have become United’s youngest ever player. Gabriel has not trained with the first team in two weeks but has scored five goals in his three appearances for the Under 21s and Under 19s. Sign up for the Man United newsletter Thank you! City, Chelsea and Barcelona are interested in Gabriel, who was named among United’s Premier League squad numbers this term. United hope to salvage the situation and repair their relationship with Gabriel and his entourage but would demand a significant compensation fee if he leaves. Gabriel has requested to be de-registered from his current contract that runs until the end of the season. United sources insist Gabriel cannot be de-registered. Well-placed sources say huge sums have been demanded from interested agencies to represent Gabriel ahead of a potentially lucrative transfer. Barcelona have made a concerted effort to woo Gabriel and he spent part of his summer in Catalonia. Most read in Sport Ticket + hotel room for Man Utd games GET tickets to see Man Utd at Old Trafford with our hand-picked deals. The packages include an official match ticket and an overnight stay in a nearby hotel. Man United Home Games⚽ 13 Sep v Manchester City — BOOK HERE⚽ 10 Oct v Tottenham Hotspur — BOOK HERE⚽ 24 Oct v Bournemouth — BOOK HERE⚽ 7 Nov v Aston Villa — BOOK HERE More games available here. *If you click on a link in this article, we will earn affiliate revenue. United and City have raided each other at academy level in recent years, with Darren Fletcher’s twin sons, Jack and Tyler, moving to Old Trafford in 2023. City signed Harrison Parker in what United sources described at the time as a “revenge move”. United signed David Eze and Karim Cassim from City’s academy in the summer. United have arranged for Gabriel to train multiple times with their first team and he came on in their pre-season win against Atletico Madrid in Stockholm in August. Former United head coach Ruben Amorim and director of football Jason Wilcox provided Gabriel with reassurances as part of the club’s charm offensive last season. The teenager was handed the brand-conscious number 77 but his father, Joe O’Cearuill, has been described as a “problem” in the club’s dealings. Comment now