Sir Jim Ratcliffe's latest round of savage cuts 'hit Man United academy LUNCHES'

Manchester United's co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has introduced his latest round of cost-cutting measures at the Red Devils training ground, according to reports.

Since taking partial control of the club last year, Ratcliffe's tenure has been characterised by a series of cuts across the side's infrastructure, including cancelling the Christmas party.

These measures have also seen funding for a charity supporting former players slashed, as well as an increase in ticket prices.

However his latest move is likely to impact everyone at the club outside of the first team.

According to The Sun, United are now set to serve just soup and sandwiches at Carrington to everybody not in the first-team squad in the latest bid to save money.

Furthermore, the Under-18s were denied the opportunity to play under the lights at Old Trafford in the FA Youth Cup.

Man United part owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has come under scrutiny for his cost-cutting measures

Ratcliffe's const-cutting measures have included increasing ticket prices and axing a Christmas party

Ordinarily, their fifth round clash with Tranmere would have been staged at the club's iconic home, but in order to save the club £8,000 it was played out elsewhere.

Instead of Old Trafford the U18s played at Leigh Sports Village at the 12,000 capacity ground there.

It comes in a season in which the club spent almost £15million in axing Erik ten Hag and Dan Ashworth, as well as a further £9.2m to bring Ruben Amorim to the club from Sporting.

Performances on the pitch this season have left plenty to be desired, with United in 15th place in the Premier League.

With West Ham beating Arsenal at the weekend, the Red Devils are now ahead of the Hammers on goal difference alone.

Their most recent outing saw them rescue a 2-2 draw away at Everton, after a blistering first half from the Toffees, under former United boss David Moyes.

Amorim admitted after the game that his team were invisible in the first half after yet another disappointing result.

'We just played one half and we managed to draw the game,' he said.

United's Under-18s were denied the chance to play at Old Trafford in the FA Youth Cup

Ratcliffe's cost-cutting is thought to be about giving Ruben Amorim more money to spend on his first team

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'We didn't exist in the first half. Everything we did in the week I think the free man was there, I think the space was there, but I think we lost balls we cannot lose.

'Anyone that watches Everton know they will be really good on second balls and the two goals are second balls. That's why you get disappointed.

'But let's not just focus on the negatives. In the second half I said no matter what the result, we are going to do what we did during the week but with a little bit more energy.

'I think you saw it was not different in the positions it was different in the quality with which we played the game.'