Phelan: Club Identity Broken After Welbeck Exit

Former Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan feels part of the club's "identity has been broken" with Danny Welbeck's departure to Arsenal.

The England striker, 23, came through United's famed youth system but joined the Gunners for £16m on deadline day.

United brought striker Radamel Falcao on a £6m loan deal from Monaco, their sixth signing of the transfer window.

"They have probably lost the way of Manchester United a little bit," Phelan told BBC Sport.

"Now, rather than produce, it may be the case where they are buying in.

"Someone like a Danny Welbeck has been part of United's identity and that has been broken.

"What will happen in the future now, nobody knows but that thread has been broken now.

But Phelan, who was Ferguson's assistant between 2008 and 2013, believes the big-money arrivals at Old Trafford could suggest a change of philosophy at the club.

"There is always the start of something and maybe this is the start of a new way of doing things at Manchester United and maybe that is the way football is going," he added.

"Is it better to look at the instant rather than the future? It is a difficult one because youth is always the future, we all have to start somewhere and you just hope that product of youth can develop in the Premier League."

Phelan expects Arsenal to give Welbeck the chance to flourish after finding his chances limited at United.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger already has a number of England internationals in his squad, with Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott, Kieran Gibbs and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all first-team regulars when fit.

England squad member Calum Chambers was signed in the summer from Southampton and the defender has made three Premier League appearances this season.

"He is still only a young player and with young players you will get peaks and troughs but it is a case of Danny feeling more important in himself than he probably was over the last 12 months," added Phelan.

"He is in a position where he can play where he wants and I think that is why he chose Arsenal because they give him the opportunity to play in his best position, which is a striker."