JJ Gabriel transfer news: Man Utd's highly-rated teenage prospect asks to leave Old Trafford

Questions were raised a few days ago after all Manchester United-related content had been removed from Gabriel's Instagram .

Despite being involved in Michael Carrick's pre-season plans in the summer, Gabriel and his team have sent formal notice to the club's hierarchy that he wants his registration cancelled with immediate effect to become a free agent

Sky Sports News understands Gabriel was in line to be involved in Man Utd's Carabao Cup tie against Brighton on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports , but will now not be considered for selection.

Sky Sports News understands those at the club are mystified at what has caused the request to cancel his registration, but the feeling inside Carrington is that the situation is still rectifiable given the timescale left on his contract.

One source has told Sky Sports News that part of the reasoning for Gabriel's request to leave is over game time, both in pre-season and since the season started.

Conversations now with Gabriel's team and his family will be key, and it will be up to Man Utd chief executive Omar Berrada, director of football Jason Wilcox and academy director Stephen Torpey to attempt to de-escalate the situation.

But the biggest clubs around the Premier League and the rest of Europe will all be monitoring the situation with Gabriel as it evolves.

He was not included in the A-list for Champions League participation and featured for eight minutes for the first team in pre-season, and there is a feeling he has not been afforded as many opportunities as other young players around the squad.

However, those inside Carrington believe not much more could have been done to show a pathway through to the senior team for the young star.

In the last 12 months, Gabriel met former United head coach Ruben Amorim in his office as a first step towards the first team, followed by a meeting not too soon after with Sir Alex Ferguson.

Gabriel then trained with the first team last season and was part of Carrick's pre-season squad at times this summer as well, making his debut against Atletico Madrid in Stockholm last month.

However, Gabriel has started this season incredibly well. He scored a hat-trick against Sabah last week in the UEFA Youth League and has two goals and two assists in Premier League 2 so far this season.

Gabriel became the youngest winner of United's Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award last season after scoring more than 20 goals for the U18s.

The teenager has also previously attracted reported interest from Manchester City , while Arsenal , Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have been linked with him.

Premier League rules state that a youth registration can only be cancelled if the club, player and parent or carer agree. If they cannot reach an agreement, the Premier League can make a binding decision.

Gabriel turns 16 on October 6 and cannot sign a scholarship agreement until then, or a professional contract until he turns 17.

'Man Utd are shocked - clubs in England and Europe will be alert'

"Manchester United are mystified at JJ Gabriel and his team's request to leave the club.

"Those inside Carrington believe not much more could have been done to show a pathway through to the senior team for the young star.

"In the last 12 months, Gabriel met former United head coach Ruben Amorim in his office as a first step towards the first team, followed by a meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson soon after as well.

"He then trained with the first team last season and was part of Michael Carrick's pre-season squad at times this summer as well - making his debut against Atletico Madrid in Stockholm last month.

"However, Gabriel has started this season incredibly well. He scored a hat-trick versys Sabah last week in the UEFA Youth League and has two goals and two assists in PL2 so far this season as well.

"Conversations with Gabriel's team and family will be be key and it will be up to chief executive Omar Berrada, director of football Jason Wilcox and academy director Stephen Torpey to attempt to rectify the situation.

"But the question remains - how much more can United do to convince Gabriel and his team that his future is at Old Trafford?

Man Utd will be desperate not to let Gabriel slip through their fingers

Analysis by Sky Sports' William Bitibiri :

"Not since Duncan Edwards in the 1950s has a young player at Manchester United generated as much excitement as JJ Gabriel. Although I didn't have the privilege of watching Edwards, I have watched Gabriel play live and it's not simply hype.

"There's a talent there that United have made no secret of expressing their confidence in. Starting last season at age 14, the U18s Premier League is already well aware of his ability.

"As his age suggests, he's a slight player, still to grow into adulthood, but that hasn't prevented him from setting whatever stage he's been given alight. His technical ability and maturity are those of a player beyond his age, and he has an eye for goal too.

"His 21 goals in the U18s Premier League saw him scoop up the golden boot at that level. He was also named U18s Premier League player of the year and became the youngest winner of the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award in United history.

"Following his activity on social media or having spoken to people with some knowledge of the forward, he's football-obsessed and eager to learn, develop and stretch his abilities.

"There's no question United will be moving heaven and earth to keep him on the books. United's famed academy very rarely provides margin for error, but letting Gabriel slip through the cracks will be a sad indictment of one of Europe's leading footballing schools."

Carrick hoping to begin trophy-winning campaign against Brighton

The Carabao Cup represents Michael Carrick's first domestic cup campaign as United's long-term head coach and offers an early opportunity to put silverware back on the agenda at Old Trafford.

Carrick was part of United's coaching staff during a barren spell in terms of trophies, initially working alongside Jose Mourinho before continuing under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer from 2018 to 2021. He later took charge on an interim basis.

Solskjaer's reign was repeatedly judged on United's failure to turn semi-final and final appearances into trophies, with the club reaching the latter stages of several competitions without lifting silverware.

Now installed as the club's permanent head coach, Carrick has made clear that winning trophies remains central to the job.

"Trophies is the beauty and the feeling of winning is what we're in football for, what we're in sport for, and certainly one we're in this club for us to try and win," he said.

Carrick acknowledged that success cannot simply be demanded into existence, but stressed the importance of giving supporters the emotion that comes with winning trophies.

And despite the temptation to rotate with United facing a busy schedule, he insisted his side will approach Wednesday's tie determined to progress.

"It's important for us to win football matches," Carrick said. "It's important that we manage the squad as well, and get everyone up, keep everyone up to speed, keep everyone ready, keep everyone part of it.

"We're going into Wednesday trying to win the game."

United go into the Brighton clash looking to respond immediately to Sunday's derby disappointment, with Carrick admitting their Premier League points tally is currently below expectations.

The defeat to City was made all the more frustrating by the fact Enzo Maresca's side played much of the match with 10 men, but Carrick believes his players can use the setback as motivation.

"We've got to move on. We've still got to look at it for ourselves and we've got to win games," he said.

"It's a fresh season, and the points tally right now is not what we want it to be, so we're not hiding from that. But it's more of getting winning games, getting that feeling, getting that habit."