Chelsea are preparing for another major rebuild after finishing tenth in the Premier League during the 2025-26 campaign.
The Blues collected 52 points after enduring several managerial changes and a difficult end to the season.
Enzo Maresca left midway through the campaign, while Liam Rosenior also struggled before Calum McFarlane took interim charge.
Chelsea have since appointed Xabi Alonso and started reshaping the squad ahead of the new Premier League season.
Morgan Rogers arrived from Aston Villa in a club-record deal, while Chelsea also strengthened their defence with Maxence Lacroix.
The Blues added Marco Palestra, Geovany Quenda, Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck as part of their latest recruitment drive.
However, Chelsea also want to continue targeting some of the best young talents available in English football.
According to TEAMtalk, Chelsea are currently the strongest Premier League suitors for Manchester United striker JJ Gabriel.
The London club view Gabriel as exactly the type of young talent they want to recruit. Manchester United have already started working to secure his long-term future at Old Trafford.
Gabriel became the youngest player to feature for United’s under-18 side in early 2025 when he was only 14.
Later that year, United handed him squad number 95 and allowed him to train with the first team after he turned 15.
He then won the Under-18 Premier League Player of the Season award and continued his rapid rise.
Gabriel also became Manchester United’s youngest-ever player during a pre-season friendly against Atletico Madrid in Stockholm.
He can sign scholarship terms when he turns 16 in October, but United want to go further.
The club also want to arrange a pre-contract agreement for professional terms before Gabriel turns 17 in 2027.
Chelsea face serious competition for his signature, with Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester City and Liverpool also monitoring him.
Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have also followed Gabriel’s development since he was around 13.
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