Erik ten Hag wasted little time in implementing strict privacy rules in a bid to try and end the dressing room leaks that plagued Manchester United last year - but his attempts to tighten up may have already been undermined just months into his tenure.
As reported by Mirror Football, the Dutchman introduced a number of rules and regulations to try and instil some much-needed discipline in the United dressing room after the club slumped to their worst ever finish in the Premier League era last term.
But Alan Shearer has insisted that the club purposely leaked interest in Marko Arnautovic to gauge fans' feelings on the ill-judged move - despite Ten Hag's tough stance on privacy.
Unsurprisingly, the United fanbase were less than impressed with plans to chase the former West Ham man and their backlash sparked a rethink from the Old Trafford hierarchy - but Shearer is adamant that interest in Arnautovic was leaked from somebody within the club to test the waters with the fanbase.
Speaking on Match of the Day, Shearer said: "I'm convinced that someone from Man United leaked the story linking them with Arnautovic, just to see what the reaction was. The reaction was that bad that they then had to pull out - I'm pretty convinced.
"I think that sort of sums up where United are - they're in a mess and it's going to take time, an unbelievable amount of money to get things right inside the football club. In terms of the right recruitment, it's going to take a lot of patience from the Manchester United fans because of where they are now to where they want to be - miles away."
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As well as doubling down on privacy, Ten Hag also implemented rules around lateness and eating habits in a bid to whip United's underperforming stars into shape.
However, his methods have so far failed to yield any significant improvements, with his side currently rock-bottom of the Premier League after starting the campaign with back-to-back defeats against Brighton and Brentford.
Ten Hag was left seething after his side were thumped 4-0 by Brentford - just days after the backlash from fans in the wake of reports suggesting that the club were pursuing a deal for Arnautovic, who is currently on the books at Bologna.
Speaking after the match, Ten Hag fumed: "It's difficult for me and a surprise. The team has to take responsibility and I feel sorry for the fans, we let them down. I asked them to play with belief and take responsibility, that is what they didn't do."
