Two years on from an FA Cup final win which saw both Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo make the difference, Manchester United's academy impact has been far more muted since then.

There were fleeting cameos for Chido Obi last season, alongside first-team debuts for the likes of Jack Fletcher, Tyler Fletcher and Shea Lacey this time around, although Old Trafford is still itching for its next breakout star.

Well, the Red Devils may not have to wait much longer, with a senior bow surely in the offing in 2026/27 for 15-year-old superstar, JJ Gabriel, the young Englishman having claimed the U18 Premier League Player of the Year award this week.

That has come following a stellar haul of 26 goal contributions in just 23 games in the competition, having also spearheaded United's surge to the FA Youth Cup final, a showpiece event that will sadly not be getting the billing it deserves.

Alas, that is a matter for a different day, while for Gabriel, he may also have one eye on possible United transfer business that could block his pathway to the first-team.

Man Utd have opened formal talks to sign teen sensation

Much of the excitement surrounding Gabriel is also centred on the prospect of him being the long-term solution on the left flank at first-team level, with neither Matheus Cunha nor Patrick Dorgu true out-and-out wingers by trade.

There have been whispers of a return to Manchester for Marcus Rashford, although the 28-year-old has openly spoken of his desire to stay put at Barcelona, even with the Catalonia side pleading poverty regarding his bargain £26m buy option.

Rather than bringing the England international back into the fold, INEOS may well look to sign the 'next Rashford' instead, amid interest in Leicester City wonderkid, Jeremy Monga.

As reported by talkSPORT's Alex Crook, United have opened 'formal talks' with Leicester regarding a move for the 16-year-old, as they attempt to get ahead in the race for his signature.

According to Crook, there are as many as ten clubs looking to sign Monga, both in the Premier League and abroad, with teams lining up to capitalise on the Foxes' recent misfortune.

Just ten years on from winning the Premier League title, the King Power side have fallen into the third tier, ensuring Monga may be an attainable target for suitors this summer.

Why Monga signing could be bad news for JJ Gabriel

It's difficult not to get carried away with regard to the aforementioned Gabriel, with his 31 games for the U18s yielding 29 goals already, as per Transfermarkt, proving such a menace despite his relative youth.

Operating off the left, as a number ten or even as a centre-forward, the fleet-footed starlet is devastating wherever he's deployed, with youth team coach Darren Fletcher tipping him to have a "big future" in the game.

He's versatile, dynamic and so deadly in front of goal, although so too is Monga, with the Leicester teenager also comfortable operating on either flank or in an advanced midfield role.

While not set to turn 17 until July, the in-demand winger has already been a firm fixture of the Foxes' first-team for over a year now, making seven appearances in the Premier League in 2024/25 at the age of just 15.

Now up to 37 total outings at senior level, he ended the most recent campaign with one goal and two assists from his 27 appearances in the Championship, albeit while only making eight starts.

For Monga to already be in the first-team picture at such a young age is a testament to him, with the England U19 international unsurprisingly earning rave reviews, having been hailed as "England's Ousmane Dembele" by Como scout Ben Mattinson.

A comparison to the reigning Ballon d'Or winner is no small feat, with it easy to see why clubs are queuing up to pluck him from the King Power Stadium, as he seeks to join the exciting list of teenage talent in the Premier League, be it Max Dowman or Rio Ngumoha.

Gabriel, who has been unable to debut for United this season under Michael Carrick, will have first-team ambitions of his own heading into 2026/27, yet signing direct competition in the form of Monga could potentially harm his hopes of game time.

Of course, there would be hope for both teen sensations to flourish, but INEOS should well put their faith in Gabriel instead, rather than blocking his pathway.