United won’t be able to make major signings: Mourinho

Manager believes rivals don’t have enough incentive to sell players to them

MANCHESTER/ LONDON: Jose Mourinho fears Manchester United will be unable to make major signings in January because their rivals no longer need to sell to them.

United have spent almost £400 million on players since Mourinho arrived at the club in 2016, but the manager claims buying top-level players is becoming increasingly difficult.

Mourinho claims the balance of power has shifted in the Premier League — using the example of Tottenham, who spent no money on players during the last transfer window, but also managed to keep their key names, in Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen and Son Heung-Min.

There was no attempt by United to sign any of those four players, but Mourinho is adamant Tottenham would have refused to sell even if there had been.

He argued it did not used to be the case, with United prising England midfielder Michael Carrick from Tottenham in 2006, then luring Bulgaria striker Dimitar Berbatov from White Hart Lane in 2008.

"Is Manchester United by its history, by its dimension, bigger than Tottenham? With all respect, Tottenham is an amazing club, but I think everybody would say yes," Mourinho said. "Can you buy Tottenham's best players? No, because they don't sell. Of course, they are so powerful that they can say no. A few years ago, who was Tottenham's best player? Michael Carrick. And a few years later, who was the best player? Berbatov. Can we go there now and bring Harry Kane? Dele Alli, Eriksen, Son? Can we go there and bring those players here? No. So who is more powerful now, them or us?"

In what appeared to be a covert criticism of Manchester City, Mourinho suggested financial restrictions sometimes did not apply in the Premier League.

Mourinho said some clubs could buy multiple full-backs at the same time, a comment he has made before when referencing City's transfer policy.



City manager Pep Guardiola bought three-full backs in 2017 while allowing another four to leave as he reshaped his squad.

"It's 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 this and others cannot, which is say: I need a right-back and a left-back, send away the ones you have and buy four at the same time," Mourinho said.

Hoilett lifts Cardiff out of relegation zone

Junior Hoilett scored late on to earn Cardiff a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Wolves in the Premier League on Friday to lift Neil Warnock's team out of the relegation zone.

For Warnock this was the perfect present on the eve of his 70th birthday after Aron Gunnarsson cancelled out Matt Doherty's opener for Wolves.

In the 18th minute Raul Jimenez rose highest at a corner to glance a header on target and Doherty was on hand to slot home with his left foot after a fine save from Cardiff keeper Neil Etheridge.

Doherty's goal was the difference between the two sides at the break. Ruben Neves curled an effort just wide shortly before the break, before Cardiff had penalty appeals waved away after Callu Paterson went down in the area.

Cardiff equalised shortly after the hour mark.

Harry Arter lifted the ball back into the area and Wolves keeper Rui Patricio found his path to the ball blocked, allowing Sean Morrison to flick on for Gunnarsson who lashed home from close range.

Warnock's side turned the game on its head with a stunning strike from Hoilett. The ball broke to the Canadian on the left edge of the area and he curled a first-time shot into the far corner.