'Isn't this something you do before a transfer window?!' - Man Utd fans completely baffled by timing of Red Devils' search for new recruitment chief in summer shake-up

Despite the fact that the summer transfer window opened weeks ago, there is still no one filling this position at Old Trafford, and according to The Athletic, the search is ongoing to find someone to report to director Christopher Vivell with a focus on player recruitment.

Taking to social media, @UtdXclusive wrote, exasperatedly: "We realised this in July..."

@Utd_Forever7 added: "Everyone is signing players while we are trying to sign directors that needed to be signed long time ago! You made us believe@INEOS&@ManUtdbut actually nothing has changed!"

@CentreBrack wrote: "Isn't this something you do before a transfer window? Especially a transfer window where you need to overhaul your squad after finishing 15th the previous year? Fascinating behaviour every day from this club honestly."

Elsewhere on X, @shadadzai posted a gif of a man with his head in his hands, writing "looking for a head of recruitment mid transfer window"

Meanwhile, @battye_edward was more balanced, writing: "They just made a load of scouts redundant, got to look long term with this, not like we can't sign players without these people in place. It's easy to criticise but we need to wait and see what happens over the next few years."

According to Ornstein, the club is currently "working with consultants Sportsology on [a] key hire to revamped department". He wrote: "Manchester United are searching for a head of senior recruitment, a new role overseeing senior scouts, as part of their overhaul of that department. United will also have regional heads of emerging talent across the main talent pools globally."

The behind-the-scenes recruitment turmoil at Old Trafford perhaps explains the club's trouble improving the squad this summer. Their move for Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo has dragged on for weeks and the Cameroon international has been warned that his potential big-money transfer may not be the wisest decision, with other clubs circling around the high-performing attacker.

The new roles overseeing scouts and regional talent spotting are part of a broader restructuring and attempted modernisation of United's approach to scouting, but it seems the club is still a long way off having a revamped recruitment system. At this time, it's unclear who exactly they will be bringing in to report to Vivell, but with the new season just weeks away, time is of the essence.