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Manchester United have launched a raid on rivals City for a group of scouts who have helped make the Blues the kings of youth development.

United vice-chairman Ed Woodward demanded an investigation into why the club famed for their commitment to developing their own players had fallen so far behind the Blues in recruiting stars of the future.

And the conclusion was that the only way United could begin to close the gap is by trying to prise away some of City’s top talent spotters.

Sunday Mirror Sport understands that United have identified at least four of City’s UK-based scouting team.

(Image: Man Utd via Getty)

(Image: PA)

And Woodward has made it clear that money is no object by offering the quartet pay-rises of up to 50 percent on what they are earning at the Etihad.

One scout has told City that he is leaving for the red side of Manchester.

But City chiefs – led by Brian Marwood, who has built City's Academy and scouting structure over the past eight years - are hopeful that they can keep the three talent spotters who are yet to decide on their futures.

United’s desperation is a clear indication of how the battle for supremacy in Manchester isUnited’s desperation is a clear indication of how the battle for supremacy in Manchester is being fought – at every level.

City have finished above United in the Premier League in four of the last five seasons.

And at youth level, their results have been so impressive in local derbies that last season United were thinking about refusing to play their rivals after City humiliated their Under-14s team 9-0.

United dominated youth development in Manchester for decades.

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They have had a homegrown player in every senior squad since 1937 and the Class of ’92 are now regarded as Old Trafford legends alongside Bobby Charlton, George Best and Duncan Edwards.

But City are now top dogs. They now have an academy to rival Barcelona’s famed La Masia, with graduates housed and trained at the club’s £200million state-of-the-art training complex on the Etihad campus.

The belief on the scouting circuit is that United have become complacent in recent years while City have invested heavily on a system that is now beginning to pay-off.

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