Manchester United head coach Jose Mourinho has questioned his side's bargaining strength in the transfer window despite being the biggest and richest club in England. The Portuguese manager's team has failed to land some high-profile players in recent years with the club seemingly trudging on in 'transition' post-Sir Alex Ferguson.
The frustrations of the Red Devils in the transfer window was felt earlier this summer when they managed to secure the services of only Diogo Dalot, Lee Grant and Fred despite Jose Mourinho reportedly submitting a wish list to the club's hierarchy to consider and act.
According to the ex-Chelsea manager, it is possible that his current side has lost its power to lure top players from rival clubs who have also been empowered by the earning in the Premiership.
"It depends," Mourinho stated when quizzed as to whether the expectations at United are different from other clubs.
"I will give you an example, that I hope is a good example. I hope you can interpret it in the right way.
"Is Manchester United by history, by its dimensions, bigger than Tottenham? With all the respect - Tottenham is an amazing club - I think everybody would say yes.
"Can we go to Tottenham and buy their best players? No - because they don't sell or because they are so powerful that they can say no.
"A few years ago, who was Tottenham's best player? Michael Carrick. A few years later, who was the best player? [Dimitar] Berbatov," he added with reference to two of Tottenham’s best players Sir Alex Ferguson successfully brought to Old Trafford.
"Can we go now there and bring Harry Kane, Dele Alli, [Christian] Eriksen, Son [Heung-min]?
"Can we go there and bring the guys here? No.
"So, who is more powerful now. Them or us?"
"Football changes," Jose Mourinho continued.
"It is more difficult to buy players of a high, high, high level.
"The clubs are more powerful and don't want to sell.
"Before, the smaller clubs, they were almost begging the big clubs, 'get my best player, I need to sell. Please, you are powerful, buy my best player'.
"At this moment, they don't want to sell.
"It is more difficult to make the team better and stronger with buying.
"Unless you do what some clubs do, and for some reason, they can do and others cannot.
"Which is, I need a right back and a left back. Send away the ones you have and buy four at the same time.
"It is difficult, so we do what we can.
"Last season was fantastic to finish second and we are fighting hard. I know we have to do better than we are doing.
"But one thing is to do better and another thing is to try and compare ourselves with what Manchester United was in the past.
"Not just because Manchester United was fantastic, but because there was a big difference to the others and, at the moment, it is not like that," Mourinho concluded.
