Man Utd raid Brentford for the third time in just three months with latest recruit

 Manchester United are set to appoint Brentford’s chief operating officer Ameesh Manek as their new director of football operations - making him the third individual to move from west London to the north west in just three months.

The club's pursuit of Bryan Mbeumo was well documented, eventually finishing with the Cameroon winger moving to Manchester for £71million, but since then two off-pitch signings have been made to aid United.

Manek will leave Brentford after spending three years at the club and his role will involve him overseeing the running of United’s Carrington training ground. He will take charge of travel, security, training facilities, staff management and infrastructure as United look to change the day-to-day running of the club. He is the latest appointment made by chief executive officer Omar Berrada and his remit will see him work across the men’s and women’s teams.

Manek continues the path of people going from west London to Manchester after Stephen Torpey started work as the Red Devils’ academy director two weeks ago. He was previously responsible for re-opening the Brentford academy in 2022.

United spent weeks trying to land Mbeumo's signature in the summer with the forward enjoying his best season to date last term. Brentford dug their heels in and eventually got the type of fee they wanted in a deal that appeared to suit all parties.

Despite the team's obvious struggles this term Mbeumo has been a bright spark. His first goal came in the Carabao Cup loss to Grimsby and he's also netted in the Premier League. He did have a forgettable first return to Brentford with United losing 3-1 in the capital less than a fortnight ago.

The Bees have had to deal with wholesale changes over the summer. Alongside Mbeumo, captain Christian Norgaard left for Arsenal whilst Yoane Wissa, who was another of their source of goals, left on deadline day to join Newcastle. That was all after manager Thomas Frank left.

He was hired by Tottenham after several impressive years with Brentford, which began with them in the Championship. Since Keith Andrews took over in the summer the club have won just two of seven games and sit two spots above the relegation zone.