JOSE MOANS THAT UNITED CAN’T RAID SPURS NOW!

JOSE MOURINHO admits he is not guaranteed a new signing in January and warned that Manchester United can no longer wield their financial muscle over the rest of English football. As Alexis Sanchez — United’s only signing last January — was ruled out for about six weeks with a torn hamstring yesterday, Mourinho said he will bring in only one player at most next month. ‘I don’t think we will sign (anyone),’ said United’s manager, who has made a new centre back his priority. ‘If we do, I would say one player.’ Mourinho used Tottenham as an example to explain why United can no longer raid rivals as they once did for players such as Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Carrick. ‘Is Manchester United bigger than Tottenham? I think everybody would say yes,’ he said. ‘Can you buy Tottenham’s best players? No, they don’t sell. 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? Berbatov. ‘Can we now bring Harry Kane? Dele Alli, (Christian) Eriksen, Son (Heung-min) here? No. So who is more powerful now? ‘One thing is to compare ourselves with what United was in the past. Impossible. Not just because United was fantastic, but smaller clubs were almost begging, “Get my best players. I need to sell”. At this moment, they don’t want to sell. ‘You have no chance unless you go to crazy numbers or you go to second-level players and still have crazy numbers. But second level is not what United is.’ United go to Southampton today looking to step up their push for a top-four place. They will be without Sanchez, injured in training. ‘He is not playing this year,’ said Mourinho. ‘Just the painful scream — it’s going to be for a long time.’