Manchester United reportedly missed the opportunity to sign seven players recommended by their former scouts, with four of them later joining rivals Manchester City.
The list, compiled by former head of scouting Jim Lawlor and world head of scouting Marcel Bout, included Rodri, Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Kai Havertz and Joao Cancelo. Rodri, Haaland, Grealish and Cancelo have continued to thrive under Pep Guardiola.
Lawlor joined United in 2006 during the reign of Sir Alex Ferguson and remained chief scouts until the summer of 2022, when he left to make way for Erik Ten Hag. Bout, who was initially part of former head coach Louis van Gaal's coaching staff, became global head of scouting in 2016 but also left United alongside Lawlor.
The reshuffle was seen as an opportunity for Ten Hag to shape his bench, but the Dutchman was sacked in October 2024, with advice from Lawlor and Bout on player recruitment seemingly ignored, according to a 2022 GQ report. City has took advantage of United's indecision by signing current Ballon d'Or winner Rodri for £62 million in July 2019, followed by the full-back Cancelo in a part-exchange deal for £60 million a month later.
They then secured Aston Villa captain Grealish for £100million in August 2021 and further strengthened their squad by bringing Haaland to the Etihad Stadium a year later. Havertz, meanwhile, sealed a £72million move to Chelsea from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020 and won the Champions League at Stamford Bridge.
In July 2023, he made headlines again by completing a sensational move to Arsenal, where he has now become a central part of their Premier League title chase this season. Declan Rice then swapped West Ham for the Gunners in a £105million deal.
Meanwhile, Bellingham bid farewell to Borussia Dortmund, opting for the charm of Real Madrid, where his debut season resulted in an incredible La Liga and Champions League double.
Joao Cancelo (right) was also overlooked by United (Image: Offside via Getty Images)
Kai Havertz won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021 (Image: Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
United said of the departure of their chief scout Lawlor: “Jim played a key role in the development of several trophy-winning teams and was an important source of advice to Sir Alex Ferguson and each of the managers who undertook him. follow up.”
Lawlor was credited with masterminding the acquisition of Mexican star Javier Hernandez in 2010. The striker's £6 million price tag proved a bargain as he helped win two Premier League titles during Ferguson's final three years at the club.
Additionally, Lawlor was lauded for orchestrating Henrik Larsson's memorable loan move to Helsingborgs in 2006. Certainly, the optics of the news don't cover United in glory, and the club still seem to struggle with recruitment.
Nearly £200million was spent on Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs De Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee this summer, ahead of Ruben Amorim's arrival, and questions remain over their suitability for the club.
Dan Ashworth left his role as sporting director in December and Amorim has since brought several of his Sporting CP colleagues with him as United embark on a new era. However, the 'what ifs' will no doubt haunt United fans, with Rodri, Cancelo, Grealish and Haaland all now owning multiple Premier League titles.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/2002211/Manchester-United-Transfers-Manchester-City