Manchester United confirm leading scouts Jim Lawlor and Marcel Bout have LEFT the club

Manchester United will overhaul their scouting network this summer after confirming that Jim Lawlor and Marcel Bout have left the club.

Lawlor has been chief scout for 16 years after he was brought in under Sir Alex Ferguson in 2005.

The 57-year-old Irishman was given a new role six years ago overseeing an expanded network of scouts at United, but the system is expected to change again this summer.

Manchester United’s leading scouts, Jim Lawlor and Marcel Bout, have left the club

A club statement read: ‘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.’

Bout (left) joined United as part of Louis van Gaal’s (right) backroom team in 2014 before being appointed as the club’s head of global scouting two years later

Bout joined United as part of Louis van Gaal’s backroom team in 2014 and was appointed United’s head of global scouting two years later.

The club statement added: ‘Marcel Bout has departed from his role as head of global scouting after eight years with the club.

‘A respected figure within and outside of Manchester United, Marcel has played an important part as an assistant coach and in the strengthening of our scouting capabilities in recent years.

‘Marcel leaves the club with our warmest thanks for his significant contribution and our very best wishes for the future.’ 

Following the news of Lawlor and Bout’s departure, there were suggestions that it could spark positive changes at the club, given they haven’t won a Premier League title since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 while spending £1billion in trying to do so. 

United have failed to win a Premier League title since 2013 despite spending £1billion

Gary Neville insists that the overhaul of the scouting department won’t spark a ‘revolution’

However, United legend Gary Neville insists fans shouldn’t expect to see change anytime soon.

Reacting to the news that Lawlor and Bout’s departures would spark a ‘revolution’, Neville tweeted: ‘Not quite sure we’re going to see a revolution. Jim has been marginalised for years so this won’t shift the dial.’

The departures come less than 24 hours after United’s heavy 4-0 defeat against Liverpool, which saw Ralf Rangnick claim up to 10 players could be sold in the summer as they look to rebuild both on and off the pitch.