Manchester United and Leicester go head-to-head at Old Trafford later today in the Premier League. Ahead of the game Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers has claimed that United can still attract the biggest names in football.

However, the reality for Manchester United that they are very much a club and team in transition. They are no longer one of the two teams in the Premier League, which will be hard to take for a club so accustomed to winning top-flight titles.

Current team’s performances affecting the club’s reputation

The current United team does not match the club’s worldwide reputation. The poor performances and results no doubt affect the club’s reputation. Under Sir Alex Ferguson, the Red Devils were attractive to players.

They had the ability to challenge for the big trophies at home abroad. However, the current team may well struggle to make it into the top-six this season, which they are now outsiders to achieve. Head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is attempting to build a hungry young team.

That is evident with the summer signings of highly-rated young pair Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James. Both have potential, but as young players, they are likely to make mistakes and are not yet the finished article.

James, in particular, has made a bright start to his United career. However, it is not the young players who are letting the team down, it is the more experienced individuals in the squad who are not putting in good enough displays for the team.

Change takes time

The way that Solskjaer is going about attempting to change the culture at the club deserves praise. He came into a dressing room of players who were not good enough or simply could not be bothered to perform. Something wasn’t right within the team.

Solskjaer is attempting to change the atmosphere, but that takes time. Bosses in the English top-flight do not always get the time they need to implement change. The Norwegian’s status as a club icon may just buy him some time with both the fans and the club’s hierarchy.

This season’s results and performances have simply not been good enough from United. However, it will not be long before fans will start asking questions about whether the relatively inexperienced boss at this level can turn things around.

Manchester City and Liverpool miles ahead

The harsh truth that everybody associated with United now knows is that their team is miles behind their most bitter rivals Manchester City and Liverpool on the pitch. Both are far superior to the rest of the teams in the Premier League.

However, it will Manchester United who will feel the chasm the most, simply because they were so accustomed to being a top team in the English top-flight. They are not a top team anymore, which makes them less attractive to potential signings.

Due to their recent success, Liverpool and City are now more attractive destinations for players, who as we all know are a fickle bunch. If all three clubs were competing for a top world superstar, then United would likely be third in the queue behind their two north west rivals.

Manchester United are still a massive club, but failure on the pitch in recent seasons has certainly taken its toll on the whole club. The only thing that can put United back at the top of the football tree is winning games, but at the moment they are struggling to do so. It could take the Red Devils a long time to return to former glories.

Can Manchester United still attract the biggest names?