managers don't sign anyone anymore in the modern world. Yes years ago managers would be spotted in the terraces keeping an eye on a player, but with the other foreign leagues developing so greatly it would be impossible for managers to keep an eye on every player, instead the scouts do all the scouting while the manager, for example pearson, would state what qualities a player should have which under pearson would have been a hard working, fit player who won't distrupt the group. That sort of thing is what I'd imagine occurs nowadays.