Manchester United planning significant personnel changes in efforts to modernize their recruitment strategy

Manchester United are gearing up for a transformative 2025-26 season, with significant changes taking place behind the scenes. The club's owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has been vocal about the need for improvement, particularly in the scouting department.

Ratcliffe's criticism of Manchester United's recruitment record has been well-documented. He described the club's data analysis as 'last century', indicating a desire for modernisation. This sentiment is reflected in the ongoing recruitment revamp at the club, as reported by The Telegraph.

Among the changes, Manchester United's director of scouting, Stephen Brown, has confirmed his departure from the club. His position is set to be filled, with Sportsology Group hunting for a new head of senior recruitment and senior emerging talent scouts. These new hires will work under head of recruitment Christopher Vivell.

The new head coach, Ruben Amorim, who replaced Erik ten Hag midway through last season, has the backing of the club. However, Amorim's squad includes a noteworthy rump of expensive signings who've failed to live up to expectations at Old Trafford. United are struggling to move Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, and Tyrell Malacia out of the club, raising questions about the club's recruitment strategy.

The fee for Bryan Mbeumo of Brentford appears to be a stumbling block in Manchester United's pursuit of the player. Despite this, the club has made a quick transfer of Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Whether Cunha will prove to be a valuable addition remains to be seen, as do other recent signings like Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee, and Andre Onana. These players might yet prove their worth but are just as likely to stand as monuments to United's apparently archaic recruitment processes.

The search for a new head scout at Manchester United remains ongoing, with no new candidate announced as of yet. There may also be continued exits of scouts and recruitment analysts from the scouting department at Manchester United. Simon Wells, a senior scout who worked during the Alex Ferguson era and returned under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, may leave his role at the club.

Despite the challenges, Manchester United are determined to turn things around. The club had a chance to win the Europa League final last season but lost. The disappointment of that defeat serves as motivation for the upcoming season, as United prepare for a restorative 2025-26 season.

Manchester United planning significant personnel changes in efforts to modernize their recruitment strategy