Manchester United's Zidane Iqbal sale decision raises £40m transfer strategy question

Man Utd midfielder is set to depart for Dutch side FC Utrecht as Erik ten Hag sanctions €1million departure

Manchester United's decision to sanction the departure of promising youngster Zidane Iqbal was met with widespread surprise.

After all, this is a talented 20-year-old who 12 months ago impressed greatly in pre-season and penned a new contract. Now, less than a year on, he is set to sign for Dutch top-tier side FC Utrecht for €1million, albeit with a significant sell-on clause included.

Iqbal, born in Whalley Range, has come through the ranks at Old Trafford and has a senior debut under his belt, albeit he hasn't featured under Erik ten Hag. And while first-team opportunities may not have presented themselves in the short term, midfield is an area where United need a succession plan. Mason Mount could well arrive this summer as part of that process and Kobbie Mainoo is a shining light in the Academy but Iqbal could have had a role to play.

He hasn't played regular senior football and has outgrown the Under-21s. Indeed he wanted to leave on loan in January before an injury crisis prevented any move. A loan again this summer seemed likely but instead it is a permanent exit.

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While the decision to offload Iqbal may ultimately be the right thing for player and club, the reported price emphasises a United issue in the transfer market. While Iqbal is untried and untested at senior level, a fee of €1million represents a low sales figure, and, when you see how Premier League rivals are able to exploit the market, the price becomes even more stark.

Manchester City, for example, made in excess of £40million last summer selling Academy prospects with little or no first-team experience. City sold Samuel Edozie to Southampton for £10m and Darko Gyabi to Leeds United for £4.5m last summer. Neither had played a competitive game for City. Romeo Lavia departed for £10.5m, Juan Larios for £6m.

Gavin Bazunu and Aro Muric, who had played football out on loan, fetched a combined £14m. That's £45m in one summer, and while Southampton had a large hand in that windfall, a flick back through the seasons shows examples of City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal being able to cash in on promising talent.

The Gunners sold Sam Greenwood and Dominic Thompson for £3m each in 2019, while Krystian Bielik fetched closer to £10m. Liverpool got £18m for Rhian Brewster while the list of Academy exits from Chelsea over the past few seasons for seven figures plus is lengthy.

Not all are comparable with Iqbal, some had loan experience under their belt and some had interested clubs prepared to pay over the odds. But it paints a picture of United selling a promising talent for below market value.

And where question marks have rightly been raised about the club's spending in recent seasons, the decision prompts concerns that the Old Trafford hierarchy are unable to maximise what they have to raise vital funds.

With a protracted takeover still dragging on and a series of senior summer signings required, swelling the coffers is as vital as ever. With rivals able to bolster their balance sheets, it's evidence of another area where United have fallen behind.