Four transfer targets identified by Man Utd scouts have joined Man City | Football

Manchester United reportedly missed an opportunity to sign seven players recommended by their former scouts, with four of them later joining their cross-town rivals Manchester City.

The list, compiled by former chief scout Jim Lawlor and global scouting chief Marcel Bout, includes Rodri, Erling HaalandJack Grealish, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Kai Havertz and João Cancelo. Rodri, Haaland, Grealish and Cancelo continued to flourish Pep Guardiola.

Lawlor joined United in 2006, under Sir Alex Ferguson, and remained chief scout until the summer of 2022, when he left to make way for Erik Ten Hag. Bout, who was initially part of former coach Louis van Gaal’s coaching staff, became global head of scouting in 2016 but, along with Lawlor, also left United.

The shake-up was seen as a chance for Ten Haga to shape his bench, but the Dutchman was sacked in October 2024 and advice from Lawlor and Bout on player recruitment appeared to have been disregarded, according to the 2022 report. GQ report. City took advantage of United’s indecision by signing current Ballon d’Or winner Rodri for £62m in July 2019, and full-back Cancelo a month later in a partial swap deal for £60m.

They then signed Aston Villa captain Grealish for £100m in August 2021 and further strengthened their squad a year later by bringing Haaland to the Etihad Stadium. Meanwhile, Havertz sealed the transfer for £72 million Chelsea with Bayer Leverkusen in 2020 and won the Champions League at Stamford Bridge.

In July 2023, he made headlines once again by making a sensational switch to Arsenalwhere he has now become a key figure in their career First league title hunt this season. Declan Rice then swapped West Ham for the Gunners for £105 million.

Meanwhile, Bellingham said goodbye to Borussia Dortmund and chose the charm of Real Madrid, where he achieved an incredible double in La Liga and the Champions League in his debut season.

United said of chief scout Lawlor’s departure: “Jim played a key role in the development of many trophy-winning teams and was an important source of guidance to Sir Alex Ferguson and every manager who followed him.”

Lawlor was credited with masterminding the acquisition of Mexican star Javier Hernandez in 2010. The striker’s £6m price tag proved a bargain as he helped secure two First league titles during Ferguson’s final three years at the club.

Furthermore, Lawlor was praised for orchestrating the memorable loan signing of Henrik Larsson from Helsingborgs in 2006. Admittedly, the optics of the reports do not include United in glory, with the club still struggling with recruitment.

Almost £200 million was spent on Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs De LigtNoussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee this summer earlier Reuben Amorimthe arrival of the players, and questions regarding their suitability for the club still remain.

Dan Ashworth left his position as sporting director in December and Amorim has since taken some of his Sporting CP colleagues with him as United enters a new era. However, the ‘what if’ questions will undoubtedly haunt United fans, with Rodri, Cancelo, Grealish and Haaland all now boasting plenty of First league titles.