Football Insider exclusive as Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe talks with Jason Wilcox in the stands.
Football Insider exclusive as Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe talks with Jason Wilcox in the stands.
That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the Red Devils' problems lie in their structure behind the scenes.
A recent report from CIES outlined that United's signings across the last five years have seen their value depreciate more than those of any other Premier League club.
However, Wyness believes that there have been numerous times when the club's recruitment department have been "overruled" by those higher up in the club.
CIES' report highlighted that United's signings in the last five years have seen their market values drop by a total of £338million since joining the club.
The Manchester giants have seen several high-level acquisitions fail to impress in their colours of late, but Wyness does not believe the recruitment team are the ones to blame.
The shambles of recruitment at certain clubs revealed in latest report by the always excellent @CIES_Football who have calculated the appreciation or decrease in player signings since they joined their clubs (excludes academy players). https://t.co/XwKPsxxoZC
— Kieran Maguire (@KieranMaguire) October 28, 2026
Man United urged to gut decision-making process
Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that United need to rip up their decision-making process behind the scenes if they are to turn their fortunes around.
The boardroom expert feels that too many people have a say at Old Trafford, and the "internal politics" behind the scenes are hindering the club.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained why overhauling the recruitment team is not the answer.
"It is a pretty damning report in terms of numbers, obviously, and I think that's a fair way to look at things. But I think gutting the recruitment department is really looking at the wrong issue," he said.
"These players have been assembled over several managers, and it's not always been the managers or the recruitment department that have had the final say, that's for sure.
"I know that there's been a number of times when other targets or better targets have been offered, but they've been overruled.
"I think we all know it's been a dysfunctional process in terms of the actual reporting structure. I think we said last week, too many cooks, and I think that is definitely the case at United right now.
"I don't necessarily think it's the recruitment department that needs gutting, it's the process in which decisions are made. Successful clubs have a very slim reporting structure, whereas United have a very bloated one and still so much internal politics."
Man United ready to pounce on Rayan Ait Nouri
Football Insider revealed on Sunday that Man United may need Rayan Ait Nouri to "push" for a move away to have a genuine chance of signing him this winter.
The Manchester City left-back has been starved of football at the Etihad Stadium of late, and is still yet to make an appearance in the Premier League this season.
United are clear admirers of the 25-year-old, but sources say that their relationship with their city rivals may make it difficult for a deal to be done.
The Red Devils made a surprise approach for the defender in the summer, and still view the addition of a new left-back as a clear priority.