Up-and-coming United stars Tom Heaton and Kieran Lee will ply their trade elsewhere next season.

Goalkeeper Heaton will spend the 2008/09 season on loan at Cardiff City, while Lee has signed a permanent deal with Oldham Athletic.

FA Cup finalists Cardiff confirmed 22-year-old Heaton will be at Ninian Park next season, with manager Dave Jones admitting he’s had an eye on the stopper for some time.

“We’re really pleased to be securing the services of an England U21 goalkeeper,” Jones told the Bluebirds’ official website.

“I’m grateful to Sir Alex for allowing him to come to us and it shows we are building relationships with the best team in Europe.”

Meanwhile, Lee, a key figure for United's Reserves in recent years, has joined League One outfit Oldham Athletic on a free transfer. After spending the second half of the 2007/08 campaign on loan at Queens Park Rangers, 19-year-old Lee signed a two-year deal while the Reds were in Moscow.

“The club took a lot of the young lads to Moscow to see the Champions League final,” Lee told Oldham’s website, “but I came here to sign instead. It was definitely one of my aims to join a local team and when Oldham came along it was perfect for me.

“Hopefully I can get plenty of games. I’m certainly happy with everything I’ve seen so far.”

Lee played three times for United’s first team, memorably scoring an extra-time winner against Crewe Alexandra in the 2006/07 Carling Cup.