Manchester United leave behind hundreds of worried staff as they prepare for their pre-season tour in Los Angeles... with Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos set to make up to 250 job cuts at Old Trafford

Manchester United fly out to Los Angeles for a pre-season tour of the US on Wednesday, leaving behind hundreds of worried staff who have been told their jobs are at risk.

Employees were informed in a series of meetings on Tuesday which departments and individuals are under threat as part of a redundancy process that will result in up to 250 job cuts.

It’s understood that members of staff who are no longer going on tour because they are in danger of losing their jobs were given the news last week.

A travelling party of approximately 125 – including the playing and coaching staff – will fly to California on Wednesday, marginally down on the number that toured the US last summer.

United declined to comment on the latest stage of the cost-cutting drive under co-owners Ineos. Although no staff lost their jobs on Tuesday, the process will accelerate in the coming weeks as risk turns to redundancy for nearly a quarter of the workforce.

Morale at the club has been poor for months since Sir Jim Ratcliffe appointed corporate restructuring firm Interpath to look at running the business more economically.

It hit a new low following Tuesday's meetings just 24 hours before United leave for the three-game tour that includes games against Arsenal in LA, Real Betis in San Diego and Liverpool in South Carolina.

United are said to be trying to handle a difficult situation with as much empathy as possible, which was the message when interim chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc spoke at an all-staff meeting earlier this month to confirm the 250 job cuts.

But it is inevitable that the mood around United has been severely affected by the plans which could save up to £10m-a-year to invest in the football operation and infrastructure.

Speaking to the latest meeting of the fans’ forum, chief operating officer Collette Roche said: ‘We continue to restructure the club to ensure we have the right people in the right roles for long-term success.

‘Significant transformation is required to meet the challenges we face to be successful on and off the pitch. We believe greater efficiency can lead to better outcomes.

‘The cost review has identified ‘non-essential’ activities we can stop, and we therefore believe we have more people than we need to deliver future club priorities.

‘We have not taken this decision lightly and would not be doing it if we didn’t feel it was necessary for the long-term health and success of the club.

‘One of the reasons we need to reduce costs is to maximise funds available for investment in our priorities of football success and improving infrastructure.’

Meanwhile, United have an interest in Bayern Munich right-back Noussair Mazraoui but only if they can sell Aaron Wan-Bissaka this summer. Wan-Bissaka, who is in the final year of his contract at Old Trafford, has been linked with West Ham and Galatasaray.