Bayern Munich are unwilling to meet the salary demands of JJ Gabriel as Europe’s leading clubs circle for the Manchester United teenager.
Gabriel has informed Manchester United that he wants his registration with the club cancelled to pursue a move to another club. The 16-year-old is considered one of the biggest talents in English football, and was named Premier League u-18 Player of the Season in 2025/26.
However, he has not trained with the club for several weeks as he looks to leave Old Trafford. Having turned 16 on Tuesday, Gabriel’s entourage are exploring their options.
The Telegraph are reporting that Bayern Munich hold an interest in signing Gabriel, but have baulked at seven-figure salary demands. Real Madrid and Barcelona are also both keen on a deal, while Chelsea are watching the situation closely.
Gabriel’s desire to leave comes amid a frustration with his first-team pathway. His camp were reportedly unhappy that Gabriel wasn’t registered for Manchester United’s A-list for the Champions League, rendering him ineligible for the opener against Sabah. Under 16s can not be registered on the Champions League’s B-list squads. He was due to be involved against Brighton in the League Cup last month, before the bombshell of his desire to leave.
“I just think we’ve got to be really careful of the whole situation,” Manchester United manager Michael Carrick said last month.
“He’s a young boy, he’s 15 and the biggest [thing] for me definitely and as a club point of view is looking after our younger players. Their welfare, their wellbeing, their exposure.
“And I think all of us we’ve got to be really conscious of that, really, in this situation.
“As a club, for sure, we’re all involved in those conversations. I just think we’ve got to be very careful of that.”
See Also – Five of the best Premier League away kits in 2026/27