Manchester United have failed in an audacious bid to lure City’s transfer guru and chief local talent spotter across town.
The Old Trafford club recently launched a wide-ranging review of operations and a subsequent aggressive recruitment drive in a bid to return them to the summit of world football both on and off the field.
They were successful in a raid on City for two academy scouts, while their rivals’ head of operations has also crossed the divide.
However, Sportsmail understands United have been rebuffed in attempts to snatch City’s international scouting and recruitment manager Rob Newman and head of local recruitment Trevor Todd.