Manchester United are pushing on with two strands of work behind the scenes, one centred on trying to keep hold of JJ Gabriel, the other focused on making sure the academy pipeline remains protected if the situation moves against them. According to TeamTalk, Lens teenager Mezian Mesloub has emerged as one of the names under serious consideration as United continue to scan Europe for elite young talent.
The timing is notable. It has already been reported that Gabriel, described in the source as United’s “prized young player”, wants to leave Old Trafford, with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea all in the frame for the 15-year-old. United, for their part, are “refusing to give up on JJ Gabriel”, and there is clear senior-level involvement in the effort to change the direction of travel.
TEAMtalk states that chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Jason Wilcox are both involved as the club attempt to resolve the issue. That alone underlines the importance attached to Gabriel internally. Yet even while United “remain determined to retain Gabriel”, the recruitment department is acting with the sort of foresight modern elite clubs require. The key point here is that they are “assessing the wider market rather than leaving themselves exposed”.
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Mesloub emerging on Manchester United radar
Mesloub is rapidly gaining prominence across Europe. The 16-year-old made his Lens debut in May 2026 and delivered the kind of introduction that immediately travels across scouting circles. Coming off the bench against Nantes, he scored after just five seconds in a 1-0 win, a moment that helped send Lens into the Champions League and set a new mark as the fastest player to score on a Ligue 1 debut.
United’s interest appears substantial rather than casual. TEAMtalk reports that “United’s scouts have been carrying out extensive work on Mesloub” as they study his development and weigh up whether he should become a serious long-term target….
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