Manchester United’s department of around 80 scouts is facing considerable cuts as part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s next round of up to 200 redundancies, the Observer understands.
Christopher Vivell, the former Chelsea technical director, who became recruitment director on short-term contract in the summer, is expected to be appointed on a permanent basis as recruitment director to head up the restructured operation.
The cutting of scout numbers may affect Ratcliffe’s Mission 21 and Project 150, which are plans for United to win a 21st league title by the club’s 150th anniversary in 2028.
Yet the scaling back of United’s scouting operation will prove a challenge at a time when the club is struggling for finance to strengthen Ruben Amorim’s first team.
United’s full-time scouts work both on these shores and globally and are responsible for identifying potential recruits for all levels of the club, from first team to academy.
