JJ Gabriel of Manchester United
Manchester United starlet JJ Gabriel asked to leave the club last month (Image: Manchester United, Manchester United via Getty Images)
Manchester United are still fighting to keep JJ Gabriel despite the youngster's plea to leave the club. United have not accepted Gabriel's request to be de-registered and have sought to persuade the youngster to stay, but the recently turned 16-year-old could use a FIFA loophole to sever ties with the Old Trafford club.
Gabriel would not be allowed to join another Premier League club if United do not cancel his registration, which runs until the summer. But as he holds an EU passport, there is precedent for him to sign for a European club, with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich among the sides interested.
However, Bayern are reportedly unwilling to meet Gabriel's salary demands of at least £1 million per year, according to The Times, which would make him one of the best-paid teenagers on the planet. Here are the others...
Max Dowman before the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Ipswich Town and Arsenal at Portman Road.
The Arsenal youngster, still just 16, reportedly has a £35,000-per-week contract waiting for him when he turns 17 in December. That's about £1.8m a year, a rather large increase on the £350 per week the Gunners are paying him at present. (Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) 1 of 10
The 19-year-old Moroccan manages to scrape by on £35,000 per week and £1.8m annually.
The winger/wing-back is on £35,000 a week, putting his annual earnings around the £1.8m mark.