Man Utd senior scouts to depart in backroom shake-up amid Erik ten Hag appointment

Manchester United chief scout Jim Lawlor and global head of scouting Marcel Bout will depart the club at the end of the season.

The duo have a combined 24 years of service at Old Trafford in their roles but will leave in what could be a huge backroom staff shake up at United.

Their departures could be due to the Red Devils planning a revamp of staff with Erik ten Hag set to be appointed as their new manager in the ‘coming days’ - according to the Guardian.

Lawlor has been part of the club’s scouting department since 2006 when he was working under Sir Alex Ferguson, while Bout joined United initially as part of Louis van Gaal’s coaching staff, before taking up his current role in 2016.

A Red Devils spokesperson said: “Jim Lawlor has decided to step down from his role as chief scout in the summer after 16 years with the club. During that time, Jim played a key role in the development of multiple trophy-winning Manchester United teams and was an important source of guidance to Sir Alex Ferguson and each of the managers who have followed him. Jim leaves the club with our warmest thanks for his significant contribution and our very best wishes for the future.

“Marcel Bout has departed from his role as head of global scouting after eight years with the club. Marcel has played an important part as an assistant coach and in the strengthening of our scouting capabilities in recent years.”

The newspaper adds that a ‘key requirement’ for Ten Hag accepting United’s offer to become their fifth permanent manager in nine years, is to have control of the club’s transfer policy alongside executives.

They claim the 52-year-old could sign either a three-year contract with the Red Devils with an option for a fourth year, or a straight four-year deal.

The Dutchman, who is currently in charge of Ajax, has won two Eredivisie titles, two Dutch Cups, one Johan Cruyff Shield since taking charge of the Amsterdam side in 2017.

Former United assistant manager Steve McClaren, as well as Ajax no.2 Mitchell van der Gaag are two names being discussed to be part of Ten Hag’s coaching staff at Old Trafford, as per the same source.

Ajax are on course for back-to-back league titles, with Ten Hag’s side sitting top of the Dutch top flight, four points ahead of PSV, with five games remaining.

It’s likely the backroom staff won’t be the only revamp Ten Hag faces if appointed the Red Devils’ new boss. The club’s squad is set to lose at least five members for free this summer, with Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata, Edinson Cavani and Lee Grant all out of contract.

Nemanja Matic is another member of the squad that is expected to depart Old Trafford this summer, the 33-year-old announced on Instagram he will leave United at the end of the campaign.