KNACKERED ATTRACTION

United losing their appeal to top stars

- DAVID McDONNELL

MANCHESTER UNITED could struggle to attract the world's best players and slide deeper into crisis following their shambolic Champions League exit.

That is the view of United's former first-team coach Rene Meulensteen, who claimed the ramifications of their European implosion could be far-reaching.

United missed out on Harry Kane (right below) and Declan Rice (right, top) in the summer, with Erik ten Hag settling for alternative targets who have been nowhere near as effective.

Meulensteen, who spent six years as Sir Alex Ferguson's coach at United, reckons the fallen giants could find it hard to recover from their latest setback, with the best players choosing to go elsewhere.

"The biggest thing now with this massive disappointment of going out of the Champions League and Europe in total - is you need to think about the knock-on effects it could have," said the Dutchman.