Newcastle United’s new Dutch mega-scout Marcel Bout was in attendance at Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Bournemouth along with Dan Ashworth.
Bout joined Newcastle in November 2023 after leaving Manchester United the previous year. The Dutchman spent nearly eight years at the Red Devils, acting as an opposition analyst under Louis Van Gaal and working as the ‘head of global scouting’. At Newcastle, he will be tasked to find the best emerging talent between the ages of 16 and 23.
The 61-year-old watched on as Matt Ritchie scored a late equaliser to rescue a point for the Magpies at St James’ Park and spent last week on Tyneside, according to The Chronicle, attending a scouting summit alongside Ashworth.
The 52-year-old was also at Saturday’s game, which will almost certainly be his last for the club. After asking to leave for Man Utd on Sunday, he has now been placed on gardening leave; where he could remain until January 2026 if Man Utd fail to agree a fee with Newcastle.
Despite many members of the scouting grapevine jetting into Tyneside for the series of meetings, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe had his reservations about them taking place due to concerns that Ashworth, who could soon take up a role in Manchester, could prove to be a thorn in the Magpies side when it comes to future recruitment.
Bout, who is responsible for finding young talents that have the potential to progress into Howe’s side, is likely to focus on European talent.
