Tosic latest youngster to leave Old Trafford

Serbian international Zoran Tosic left for pastures new this week, aiming a parting shot at the club's management in the process.

"Manchester United didn't give me a chance to prove myself," was Tosic's assessment of his time at Old Trafford. Despite being a regular in the Serbian national side, the 23-year-old has only featured five times for the Red Devils in his 18 month spell in Manchester and was shipped off to Cologne for the second half of last season.

The German club were interested in buying Tosic but lack of funds allowed CSKA Moscow to step in and take the winger to Russia, for a fee believed to be close to the £7 million United paid for him in January 2009.

His transfer was meant to be part of a double deal, which also included Adem Ljajic, however United pulled out of that move in January.

Currently, Tosic is with his national team, hoping to upset the World Cup 2010 betting in a clash against Germany and it does seem slightly odd that an international class player has left United so young.

Sadly Tosic is just the latest youngster at the club to be shipped out after showing initial promise. Ben Foster left earlier in the summer for Birmingham, 20-year-old midfielder Tom Cleverley has attracted the interest of Newcastle, while United are also currently considering sending Danny Wellbeck and Mame Biram Diouf out on loan.

I know the scouting of young players does involve a fair amount of guesswork - you can never know for sure whether a player will make the grade. But given United's current financial restrictions, there is more pressure than ever on the club's extensive scouting network to find and nurture exciting young players.

United fans were spoiled in the mid-90s when an almost unparalleled group of young players came through - David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs and the Neville brothers all came into the team at roughly the same time, playing a key role in United's success over the next decade.

The Premier League 2010/11 odds suggest United will be strong title challengers next season, but they really need to strengthen their squad.

It would be greedy to wish for a similar crop of youngsters to come through the ranks, but with big money signings looking unlikely, another golden generation would come in very handy.