Scouting only works for me if I let the AI create focuses... and they just keep bringing up the same players.
I tried some manual assignments - I set a scout with no other assignments, with exceptional knowledge of Spain, to scout Spain for any 1 star to 3 star player aged between 18 and 35 and he found nothing in 6 months... same in France, Germany, Portugal...
Game is a little unplayable the further you get into saves if you cant direct your scouts how to find new players / scouting doesnt work