Kenny Dalglish: 'It's harder for Manchester United to attract top players'

Kenny Dalglish believes that Manchester United's recent struggles in the transfer market are down to their absence from the Champions League.

The Red Devils have been frustrated over the summer as new boss Louis van Gaal has failed to land his primary targets, leaving his squad short on top quality.

Dalglish has insisted that the club's problems are not down to executive vice chairman Ed Woodward, who has been maligned by supporters.

He wrote in his column in The Mirror: "Manchester United executive vice chairman Ed Woodward is getting much of the criticism for the club's failures in the transfer market this summer.

"I can understand that it might be difficult for United fans to accept, but the truth is that it might not be down to him.

"The Old Trafford side are operating in a different landscape now. They are not in the Champions League and that makes it harder to sign the top players."

United signed Argentina defender Marcos Rojo from Sporting Lisbon earlier this week, but he won't be able to face Sunderland on Sunday.