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.
Gabriel's wage demands
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.
The top earners
Here are the others...
10. Max Dowman (Arsenal) - 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.
9. Ayyoub Bouaddi (Manchester City) - The 19-year-old Moroccan manages to scrape by on £35,000 per week and £1.8m annually.
8. Geovany Quenda (Chelsea) - The winger/wing-back is on £35,000 a week, putting his annual earnings around the £1.8m mark.
7. Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal) - The Gunners' perennial loan star, 19, currently with Dortmund, is said to receive about £2m a year, a cool £40,000 a week.
6. Lennart Karl (Borussia Dortmund) - The attacking midfielder, 18, is believed to pocket between £2m and £3m, so in the region of £40,000 to £50,000 per week.
5. Franco Mastantuono (Real Madrid) - The exciting winger, 19, currently on loan at Fiorentina, is said to earn in the region of £3m per year.
4. Estevao Willian (Chelsea) - Willian, 19, banks a handy £3.1m a year, with an estimated weekly income of £60,000.
3. Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona) - Cubarsi isn't in the same ballpark as the top earners but still doesn't do badly with a reputed £4.3m annual (£85,000 per week).
2. Yan Diomande (Real Madrid) - Estimates on the Real Madrid winger's pay packet vary but he's claimed to be on at least £9m a year (£170,000 a week).
1. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) - The world's most talented teenage footballer banks a reported £19.5m per year. That's about £370,000 per week. Not bad for a 19-year-old!
