José Mourinho Riles ManU Execs With Complaint About Club's Spending

ManU Manager José Mourinho "is treading a fine line" with the Old Trafford board over his comments about the club's spending, according to Ian Ladyman of the London DAILY MAIL. Mourinho said recently that the £260M ($351.6M) he has invested in his team in the last 18 months is "not enough" to compete "at the top of the Premier League." Some senior ManU officials "have interpreted that as a less-than-subtle attempt to pressure them into more spending" as Mourinho looks to "make up ground" on "runaway" Premier League leader Man City. While the club is prepared to let Mourinho "set his own agenda" when it comes to relations with match officials, opposition managers and even former ManU players, ManU will not "appreciate thinly-disguised efforts" to force its hand on spending. ManU Exec Vice-Chair Ed Woodward "is preparing to bankroll Mourinho further in the transfer window if required" and plans are in place for "two marquee signings" in the summer (DAILY MAIL, 1/3).