Man Utd scouts identified seven signings before being sacked - four have joined Man City Manchester United chose not to sign any of the seven players recommended by their former scouts - and four of them went on to join archrivals Manchester City.
A list devised by ex-head scout Jim Lawlor, with assistance from global head of scouting, Marcel Bout, reportedly featured Rodri, Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Kai Havertz and Joao Cancelo.
The dramatic shake-up was seen as a way for Ten Hag to shape his bench how he saw fit, however the Dutchman was relieved of mangaeiral duties in October 2024, with Lawlor and Bout's counsel on recommended players seemingly ignored, as per a report in GQ from 2022.
Bout was initially part of ex-head coach Louis van Gaal's coaching staff before he became the global head of scouting in 2016, but also departed the Red Devils at the same time as Lawlor.
City took advantage of United's dithering and clinched current Ballon d'Or winner Rodri for £62million in July 2019, while full-back Cancelo followed in a part-exchange deal for £60m a month later.
