‘David Moyes can rip up shopping list if Man United don’t finish in top four’

Mike Phelan believes David Moyes will be forced to rip up his luxury shopping list if Manchester United fail to finish in the Champions League places.

The Red Devils are currently 11 points adrift of fourth-placed Liverpool ahead of their Champions League last-16 first-leg tie at Olympiacos on Tuesday night.

He’ll have one [shopping list] for being in Europe and one for not

David Moyes

Moyes signed Juan Mata in a club-record £37.1m deal from Chelsea in January before tying Wayne Rooney down to a new five-and-a-half year deal, worth a reported £300,000-a-week.

The United boss has spoken of his confidence that the Red Devils will sign more top players in the summer, but Phelan reckons Moyes will miss out on his first-choice targets if they don’t finish in top four.

“It might turn into a situation where David Moyes has two shopping lists,” Phelan is quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.

“He’ll have one for being in Europe and one for not.

“Playing in the Champions League is always an issue. You’re always going to be in competition with other football clubs for big players, whether you’re in Europe or not.”

He continued: “The big players want to go to the big football clubs and Manchester United certainly is one of those.

“The attraction to play for Manchester United will still be there though. They’re making the sign that they’ll plough money into the market this summer and pay big salaries, so it’s an interesting time.”