JJ Gabriel
Manchester United have plenty of problems on the pitch right now, and they could probably do without the escalating situation off the pitch involving the best young talent they've had in their squad for many years.
Man United have now lost three of their six matches in all competitions this season following Wednesday night's dismal defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion, but the game was almost overshadowed by the JJ Gabriel saga, especially given the 15-year-old was due to be involved against the Seagulls before telling the club he wants to leave.
While fellow teenager Shea Lacey made his full debut and scored the opening goal eight minutes in, Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox will have been plotting how they are going to make Gabriel perform a U-turn and stay at Old Trafford, amid interest from Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Chelsea, as per GMS sources.
In terms of individual players, Michael Carrick and club chiefs have plenty of other concerns too.
While the attack and midfield are up to standard following a busy summer rebuilding the latter position, there are clear worries over United's defence for this season.
In their six matches so far this term, United have conceded 10 goals, and that includes two fixtures against two newly-promoted teams in Hull City and Ipswich Town.
If they have ambitions to repeat last season's top-three Premier League finish, as well as making a statement in the Champions League, they have to tighten up, and quickly.
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When United's First-Choice Defence Signed
Luke Shaw
Lisandro Martinez
Harry Maguire
Diogo Dalot
Back-up pair Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven didn't do their chances of usurping Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez any good with their displays against the Seagulls, while Matthijs de Ligt remains on the sidelines through injury.
Diogo Dalot has little strong competition for his spot, with Noussair Mazraoui disappointing at left-back on Wednesday night.
Mazraoui played on that flank with Luke Shaw and Patrick Dorgu missing the game, and the latter in particular is becoming an issue for United.
Dorgu is 'Worst' Man United Defender in Years
via Reuters
United are crying out for strong competition for Shaw in the left-back position, with the England international flattering to deceive with his performances this season.
After a strong 2025-26 campaign, Shaw's injury issues are creeping back in, and he has missed their last three matches.
It's come at a bad time too, just weeks after the club was trying to add a new left-back to Carrick's squad in the final days of the transfer window, with Newcastle United's Lewis Hall and Barcelona's Alejandro Balde both targets.
United failed to find the right deal and, in the recent absence of Shaw, they started Dorgu at left-back against Sabah and Manchester City, even though it has been suggested previously that they view the Dane as more of an attacking player, rather than a full-back.
TalkSPORT journalist Alex Crook was far from impressed by what he saw from the £25m player against City, labelling him as the 'worst defender' he's seen at United for years.
"My main villain of the weekend is our good friend Patrick Dorgu.
"He played one game against Tottenham, got hammered on New Year's Day [4-1 defeat in 1996], we never saw him again.
"I fear we might see Dorgu in a United shirt again, but I think he should be subjected to the same treatment."
Meanwhile, former United chief scout Mick Brown has similar concerns about the 21-year-old.
He said: "If you have ambitions of winning trophies and performing to a high level in the Premier League, then you need players you can rely upon in every position.
"I think Carrick knows that, and he has to play the hand he's been dealt, but any suggestions that having Dorgu means they don't need to bring somebody in are just wrong."
United don't trust Dorgu to play at left-back in the long-term, and it's hard to see him being a regular starter on the left wing moving forward given he is competing with Marcus Rashford and Matheus Cunha for that spot.
As things stand, the former Lecce man looks more and more like a transfer flop every appearance he makes, especially in defence, and INEOS would be better off cutting their losses and cashing in on him in 2027, as part of their much-needed defensive rebuild.