Manchester United monitor Lens teenager Mzian Masloub as Gabriel future remains uncertain

Manchester United have stepped up their interest in Lens teenager Mzian Masloub as uncertainty continues over the future of Gabriel.

The club’s scouting department has carried out extensive checks on the 16-year-old Portuguese player of Algerian descent, according to TEAMtalk, after he made a rapid impression with Lens’ first team.

United’s interest in Masloub does not mean a decision has been made on Gabriel’s departure. The club are still attempting to persuade their young English player to remain, while recruitment officials are simultaneously assessing alternatives in case different scenarios develop.

Masloub broke into the Lens first-team squad last season and scored just seconds after coming on as a substitute against Nantes. His goal helped Lens secure a 1-0 victory and qualify for the Champions League.

The teenager has continued to attract attention this season, becoming the youngest player in Lens’ history to appear in the Champions League. He also played an influential role in a 3-2 win over Slavia Prague, contributing to two goals during the closing stages of the match.

Masloub operates as an attacking midfielder and tends to play on the right wing. His technical ability, dribbling, passing and effectiveness in the final third have reportedly drawn interest from several leading European clubs.

Manchester United are not alone in monitoring the player. Arsenal, Chelsea, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco are also following Masloub, according to reports about his future.

United’s move comes as the club manages the situation involving Gabriel, who has asked for his registration with the team to be cancelled. That has led the club to pursue two courses of action at the same time: trying to keep their young English talent while continuing to track other prospects in the youth market.