Are Manchester United missing a trick letting Josh Harrop leave for Preston?

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It was announced today on the Manchester United official website that up-and-coming young midfielder Josh Harrop will leave Old Trafford at the end of the month to join Preston North End on a full-time basis.

The 21-year-old – who made his debut during United’s final game of the Premier League season against Crystal Palace – will join up with Preston on a free transfer with a reported four-year deal.

He caught the eye of many on his one and only top-flight appearance, scoring the opener in a routine victory and frightening Palace’s defence with a display full of intent, trickery and speed.

Should Jose Mourinho have let the youngster leave?

Although it was never likely that Harrop was going to break into the United starting eleven for next season alongside the likes of Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial, allowing him to leave Old Trafford on a full-time basis seems like a strange call from Jose Mourinho.

Allowing him time to develop in a competitive Championship is ideal at this stage in Harrop’s budding career – but to let him leave on a permanent basis could leave many scratching their heads.

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His first-team debut may have just been a cameo performance but there was more than enough potential to suggest that he has a bright future on the biggest stage, already testing top-flight sides.

He looked right at home at Old Trafford, showing little sign of nerves and not looking out of place one bit on his way to a 98% passing accuracy, also supplying four crosses and testing the ‘keeper twice.

There was a defensive spark to his game too that makes him the ideal player to grow under the management of Mourinho, making four tackles in a stirring all-round performance against Palace.

People can dumb down Harrop’s performance for a few reasons – it was the last game of a long season for both sides, and neither United nor Palace had anything to place for – but the fact is he still impressed.

And he’s been impressing all season in the Under-23 side too, ending the season as top goal-scorer after notching 10 times in 25 appearances including a hat-trick in front of first-team boss Mourinho.

The confidence that comes with such a fruitful season – at any level – showed in his Premier League bow, taking his first Manchester United goal exceptionally well.

The composure to take his time and not rush into a shot was as if he had at least two years’ experience under his belt, drawing in the challenges before releasing a superb effort into the corner.

In a sense, Manchester United’s loss will certainly be Preston’s gain heading into next season, and Mourinho must have a firm idea of the direction of the Reds to allow a promising youngster to leave.

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