Manchester United are considering savage cuts to their recruitment staff and scouting network as part of the latest rounds of redundancies planned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Telegraph Sport understands that United could even close offices around the world, with its London base under threat, as well as foreign outposts in places such as Hong Kong.
United had previously invested heavily in personnel to lead their global scouting network, believing eyes and ears on the ground were the best way to identify talent, but now want to move to a more data-led approach in line with other top European clubs.
With that in mind, they believe their current staffing levels are bloated and large sums can be saved in wages and other related costs by removing individuals from scouting roles. Cuts in other departments are also anticipated, including the commercial team.
Although the jobs that are being culled are not highly paid positions, the feeling is the collective cost is exorbitantly high and the job losses will add up to a significant saving. That money, the club are keen to reassure, will be better used to invest in the first team.
Staff are set to discover the extent of the latest round of redundancies at a meeting later today, with around 200 job cuts anticipated to be announced to staff from 2:30pm.
That would mean Ineos have culled more than a third of the workforce since they took control of the day-to-day running of the club a year ago.
Telegraph Sport exposed the extent of Ineos’s cost cutting measures over the last 12 months in a forensic expose last week.
The latest to fall victim to Ratcliffe’s money saving drive is the staff canteen, with employees no longer having access to free hot lunches either at Old Trafford or their Carrington training base.
The staff canteen at Old Trafford, which usually opens from 11.30am to 1.30pm, is expected to be shut down at the end of this week. The canteen served free hot meals and tea and coffee.
Instead of lunch, fruit will be available for free for those working at the stadium. Casual matchday employees will continue to receive a packed lunch.
At the club’s Carrington training ground, only players will be served a hot meal, with soup and sandwiches on offer to other employees.
Manchester United have built up losses of more than £300 million over the last three years and manager Ruben Amorim has been told he will have to sell to buy in the summer.
Analysis of Manchester United’s accounts showed that debt interest payments will soar by another £50 million over the next two years, with total transfer debt standing at £391 million.
