‘Impeccable timing’ – Fans celebrate as Man Utd announce three new signings just hours after JJ Gabriel asks to leave

MANCHESTER UNITED fans were left amused by the club’s ‘impeccable timing’ after they announced THREE new academy signings just hours after JJ Gabriel asked to leave.

The Red Devils confirmed the arrival of a trio of promising youngsters as they continue to strengthen their famed academy ranks.

The arrival of teenagers Dante Plunkett, Fred Heath and Will Murdock could hardly have come at a more eye-catching time.

It arrived just hours after news broke that 15-year-old sensation Gabriel had

United announced their latest academy recruits on social media , prompting supporters to immediately draw comparisons with the uncertainty surrounding one of their biggest young talents.

One fan joked: “Impeccable timing.”

Another celebrated the club continuing to bring young talent through the doors at Carrington.

While other supporters saw the announcement as a reminder that United’s academy recruitment will continue regardless of the uncertainty surrounding Gabriel.

The teenager’s bombshell request stunned officials at Old

Gabriel has been at United since the age of 11 and is regarded as one of the brightest prospects to emerge from the club’s academy in recent years.

Fixtures Results Table

Friday 18 September

Brentford

20:00

EPL

Chelsea

Saturday 19 September

Spurs

12:30

EPL

Villa

Brighton

15:00

EPL

Arsenal

Everton

15:00

EPL

Ipswich

Newcastle

15:00

EPL

Hull

Forest

17:30

EPL

Coventry

Monday 14 September

Sunday 13 September

Saturday 12 September

English Premier League Pld Pts GD W D L Form

1

4

12

7

4

0

0

2

4

12

6

4

0

0

3

4

8

4

2

2

0

4

4

8

3

2

2

0

5

4

7

8

2

1

1

6

4

7

1

2

1

1

7

4

6

3

1

3

0

8

4

6

2

1

3

0

Nicknamed “Kid Messi”, he further enhanced his reputation last week when he scored a stunning hat-trick against Sabah in the Uefa Youth League.

That made Gabriel the youngest United player to score a European hat-trick, aged just 15.

He had also been in contention to make his senior competitive debut against Brighton in the .

Doing so could have seen Gabriel become the youngest player ever to represent United’s first team.

Goalkeeper David Gaskell currently holds that record after making his debut aged 16 years and 19 days in 1956.

But Gabriel’s shock request has thrown his immediate United future into serious doubt.

The youngster cannot sign a scholarship until he turns 16 on October 6 and is not eligible to sign professional terms until he is 17.

His current registration cannot simply be cancelled unilaterally, with agreement required between the player, his parent or guardian and United.

Should they fail to reach an agreement, the matter can be referred to the Premier League.

United chiefs are understood to have been shocked by Gabriel’s decision and remain hopeful the situation can be resolved.

The forward has already trained regularly with Michael Carrick‘s senior squad and was handed his first-team bow during pre-season against Atletico Madrid.

He was also named the club’s Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year last season following his sensational performances at youth level.

Gabriel scored 23 times in 23 Under-18 matches on his way to becoming the youngest player to win the prestigious award.

United now face a fight to keep hold of their academy jewel.

But the club’s announcement of another crop of youngsters prompted plenty of amusement among fans given the dramatic events of the previous few hours.