Barcelona stepping up efforts to sign 15-year-old Manchester United wonderkid | OneFootball

In a major development, English journalist Samuel Luckhurt reports that FC Barcelona are ramping up efforts to sign Manchester United academy wonderkid JJ Gabriel.

Just 15 years old, Gabriel is regarded as the brightest young talent coming through the ranks at Manchester United.

A centre-forward by trade, who is also capable of operating on the left flank, the youngster has been in prolific form for the Manchester United Under-18 setup this season.

Indeed, Gabriel has racked up ten goals and an assist in ten matches in the U-18 Premier League, including a hat-trick in the recent 7-0 thrashing of Liverpool.

Rated very highly at the club, Gabriel has also been called up to train with the first-team squad under Ruben Amorim on a couple of occasions.

Barcelona have seemingly taken note of the 15-year-old prodigy’s talent and potential and are making efforts to lure him away from Manchester United.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joseph Junior Andreou Gabriel (@jjnr10)

The Red Devils, however, are already taking important steps to ensure that Gabriel remains at the club for a long time.

Manchester United director of football Jason Wilcox is understood to have played a key role in convincing the youngster to continue at the club this season and the next one.

Wilcox’s involvement was key in demonstrating to the 15-year-old forward’s family how much the Red Devils value him, and therefore, there is confidence within the club that he will stay put at the club.

It is even claimed that Amorim himself had a separate meeting with the teenager and his camp, further indicating the efforts Manchester United are making to retain the forward, who has two caps for the England U-16 national team.

Barcelona, for their part, remain keen and exploring the possibility of a move for the English wonderkid, although chances of a transfer appear slim at the moment.