Jose Mourinho was frustrated by Manchester United’s lack of transfer activity in the summer window, highlighted by their defeat at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion.

Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly both struggled immensely at the Amex Stadium, allowing the Seagulls to ease to a comfortable win on home soil. Mourinho was adamant in the summer that he wanted to strengthen the centre-back position.

The Portuguese drew up a target list of names that included Toby Alderweireld, Harry Maguire, Jerome Boateng and Diego Godin. However, executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward was unable to secure a deal for a leading defender, leaving his manager a frustrated figure.

Mourinho’s worst fears may have been realised due to the performances Bailly and Lindelof at Brighton, while Chris Smalling and Phil Jones have proven to be just as unreliable. Given Mourinho’s past failures in signing centre-backs, it would have given Woodward pause for thought about making a heavy investment.

One of the strengths of United even without success on the field has been their commercial reach due to the fact they are still the best-supported team in the United Kingdom, according to research from Betting.net.

No team in the Premier League sells more shirts than the Red Devils. Alexis Sanchez’s signing allowed the club to smash their shirts sales record, which could have all but paid the outstanding transfer fee and a large portion of a signing-on fee for the Chilean.

Woodward may have had concerns that a signing on a defender would not bring the same sort of gravitas than an attacking player. Considering that Bailly and Lindelof have failed to thrive, it would be an expensive mistake to make in backing Mourinho to add another centre-back for a high price.

The Portuguese can bleat all he wants about his lack of spending this summer, but it appears that his past misdeeds could be about to catch up with him based on his side’s start to the season.