Bayern Munich Pursues Manchester United's JJ Gabriel

Bayern Munich have moved to the front of the queue for Manchester United prodigy JJ Gabriel, with the teenage forward understood to have told the club he wants out and is not expected to pull on a United shirt again.

Reports from The Sun and the Manchester Evening News say talks are already under way, with Bayern and Real Madrid both in contact with Gabriel’s camp as the 15-year-old explores a move away from Old Trafford. The interest is serious. So is the player’s desire for a new start.

At the heart of the negotiations sits super-agent Ali Barat. He cannot formally represent Gabriel until the youngster turns 16, but Barat and his agency, Epic Sports, are heavily involved in guiding the process and are widely viewed as favourites to become his official representatives once regulations allow. They are the ones who have helped draw two of Europe’s true giants to the table.

Bayern have not exactly played down their admiration. Sporting director Christoph Freund was asked about Gabriel at a press conference last week and did little to disguise how highly the German champions rate him.

“I don't talk about players who are under contract with other clubs. We know the player because he's very talented. He's an exceptional talent. I can't say anything more about that,” Freund said.

The message was clear enough. Bayern know who he is. They like what they see. And with Real Madrid lurking and United braced for the loss of one of their brightest academy prospects, the battle for JJ Gabriel’s future is only just beginning.