Manchester United can no longer attract the world's best players, according to their former striker Andy Cole.
Cole reckons United could miss out on the likes of Erling Braut Haaland this summer because their pulling power has been diminished by their lack of success in recent years.
United will try to sign £120million-rated Haaland, but Cole believes runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City have a far better chance of landing him because of the success they can guarantee.
“To get these guys to come, Haaland for instance, you've got to entice them with something,” said Cole.
“You've got to entice them with the possibility of winning silverware or being a year away from it.
“These guys are going to have other options, possibly Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Real Madrid, maybe Barcelona.
“If you're playing and have the option of all these clubs, where would United really figure at this moment in time?
“Even though I love United, I don't think the club now can ride on its name alone, especially when you're trying to bring these players in.
“It's not like when I signed for United. We have to be brutally honest, back then everybody wanted to go there.
“We're talking 2021 now. Does everyone want to go to United now? I'm not quite sure everyone wants to now.”
Although United are capable of paying the biggest fees and wages, Cole reckons players are so well paid now they put trophies and success ahead of a big pay-day, which puts Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side at a disadvantage.
“Football's such a short career now and everybody wants to win,” said Cole.
“People talk about money, but top players don't think about that, they think about winning things.
“That's ultimately what it's about, because you'll be judged on what you win by the time your career finishes.
“You've got to be a great salesman now, to be able to sell these players the football club, knowing you can't guarantee winning the league next season, particularly if City win it by 20 points.”
