Zlatan Ibrahimovic has condemned Manchester United’s recruitment policy by suggesting the squad provided to manager Jose Mourinho is wildly substandard.

Claiming his manager is “doing 200% with the team he has”, the striker’s message is that Mourinho should not be blamed for United’s struggles this season. Players’ shortcomings, and those who brought them to the club, are at fault, according to the club’s leading scorer. His comments will increase the pressure on Ed Woodward, United’s executive vice-chairman.

Woodward faces a pivotal transfer window with Mourinho pushing for premium, proven signings in a number of positions this summer. He has put £85m Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann top of an expensive shopping list that also includes Tottenham’s Eric Dier and Monaco’s Benjamin Mendy.

Mourinho, who replaced