Report: Man United to cut back scouting network

Manchester United's scouting network is expected to be targeted in Sir Jim Ratcliffe's next round of up to 200 redundancies, according to The Guardian's Jamie Jackson.

British billionaire Ratcliffe has tried to cut costs at United since he became co-owner in February 2024. The club has lost £313 million over the past three years and Ratcliffe has tried to plug the financial drain via means as varied as raising ticket prices and calling an end to free cereal bars for matchday stewards. There have been around 250 redundancies so far.

United employ 30 full-time scouts globally and 50 on a part-time or casual basis. A significant number of them are likely to be axed, which could impact United's recruitment at the senior and youth levels, reports Jackson.

United's recruitment to the senior squad has been widely criticized in recent years, with moves for Antony, Casemiro, Jadon Sancho, and many others representing huge hits to the club's finances for very little on-pitch reward. However, United have a proud tradition of spotting young talent, which continues today as academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo and Amad Diallo, signed from Atalanta at 18 years old, are fixtures in the first team and the likes of Chido Obi-Martin and Ayden Heaven put pressure on Ruben Amorim to include them in his squad.

Amorim is aware of the financial restrictions as he tries to address Manchester United's underperformance. His team is 14th - 15 points below the Premier League's top four - before it faces Tottenham Hotspur in north London on Sunday.

"Here is simple - to do something we need to sell players," Amorim said of the club's recruitment challenges Friday.