Gullit warns Manchester United are 'living in the past' as rivals Liverpool and City steal top transfer targets

Manchester United’s summer transfer window has drawn sharp criticism after a string of high-profile targets opted for rival clubs, with former Netherlands great Ruud Gullit accusing the Red Devils of clinging too heavily to their storied past.

Elliot Anderson completed a £116 million move to Manchester City despite reported interest from United, while Sandro Tonali — another name linked with Old Trafford — sealed a club-record £100 million switch to Tottenham. Mateus Fernandes also chose Spurs over United, moving to north London for £85 million. The pattern has raised uncomfortable questions about the club’s standing in the modern transfer market.

“Manchester United sometimes live in the past too much,” Gullit told NY Sports Day. “You have to adapt to modern developments. Since Sir Alex Ferguson left, football has evolved rapidly. Clubs like Liverpool and Manchester City adapted far better to modern tactical interpretations. That’s why top players wanted to join those coaches and stay there, whereas United struggled to attract the very best talent.”

Manager Michael Carrick, preparing for his first full season in charge, has so far brought in midfielder Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, but the arrivals have been viewed as underwhelming given the club’s ambitions. United have also been criticised internally for their reluctance to match rivals financially when bidding for targets, with Real Madrid’s Aurélien Tchouaméni another player said to have been on their radar without a serious offer materialising.

Carrick did guide United to a third-place Premier League finish last season — securing a Champions League return — but that was achieved with no European football and early exits from both domestic cups, limiting the squad to just 40 matches across the campaign. This season the club must compete across four fronts, placing significantly greater demands on a squad that still has gaps at left-back and in attack, with further departures from Old Trafford also possible.

United did strengthen their forward line 12 months ago, with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko all arriving and proving influential in the second half of the season. Replicating that kind of decisive recruitment this summer has so far proved elusive, and the club’s hierarchy will be under pressure to close the gap on their rivals before the window shuts.