Gary Neville has claimed a star player will always choose Manchester City last if they have a straight choice between the big clubs in the Premier League. The former Manchester United defender believes his former club, Chelsea and Arsenal would be a preferable option now for a big star looking to switch to the Premier League. Neville wrote in his Telegraph column that should a player such as Paul Pogba or Mats Hummels decide on a move to England, they are unlikely to select the Etihad as their destination - now that Manuel Pellegrini's side have been reined in by Financial Fair Play. Gary Neville believes Manchester City would now struggle to attract top players thanks to financial restrictions . Players such as Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels (left) and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba would prefer to go to one of Manchester City's Premier League rivals, according to Neville . Neville believes Manchester City need to be bold and take on UEFA's FFP regulations . 'Unless City are bold and decide to take on Uefa’s Financial Fair Play regulations, they will find it difficult to compete with United, Chelsea and Arsenal for the players I believe could make the difference in next season’s title race,' said Neville. 'If any of the top four is able to add Gareth Bale, Morgan Schneiderlin and/or Paul Pogba and Mats Hummels to their squad this summer, they would instantly become front-runners to win the Premier League next year. 'There will be an intense fight between all of the top four clubs to secure the best players, but if that battle takes place on an even playing field, I don’t see how City can come out on top. 'The landscape has changed since City were able to blow everybody out of the water by paying big fees and big wages to sign the likes of Carlos Tevez, Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri.' Manchester City have previously manager to attract the likes of Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez . Manchester United had to blitz the market and sign the likes of Angel di Maria last summer . He added: 'FFP has reined City back in and United and Arsenal have upped the ante by spending big themselves and raising the ceiling of their pay structures. 'When United were faced with the Doomsday scenario of being out of the Champions League last summer, they had to blitz the market to sign the likes of Angel di Maria, simply because they had to throw money at the problem they found themselves in. 'And that is big issue facing City this summer -- United, Chelsea and Arsenal are now all capable of taking them on in the transfer market and, if a player has a straight choice between the four clubs, City will come fourth every time.' Manchester City  travel to Old Trafford to face United in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon. Pellegrini's side sit a point and a place behind their cross-town rivals in fourth.
Financial Fair Play has reined in Manchester City's ability to spend . Gary Neville says big players would prefer their Premier League rivals . City spending can no longer blow other teams out of the water . See our Manchester United vs Manchester City combined XI here . CLICK HERE for all the latest Premier League news .