Mourinho tells Gerrard: You're at the wrong club and you'll never win anything at Liverpool - Exclusive

Jose Mourinho yesterday told Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard he is at the wrong club and will not win anything at Anfield.

The Real Madrid boss had 30-year-old Gerrard at the top of his list of targets earlier this summer but interest cooled because of his price and age.

Mourinho questioned the wisdom of Gerrard’s ­decision to stay so long with Liverpool, saying he is keen “admirer” of the skills and leadership he displays for England.

The Portuguese legend, who tried to sign the midfielder when he was Chelsea boss, said: “Gerrard for me is not in the right club. They have problems. They will not win anything.

“I do not know why Gerrard has stayed so long at Liverpool. He is very loyal.

“I watched him against Hungary. The best player on the pitch. I like him a lot. A leader. I admire him.”

Mourinho revealed he keeps a close eye on the Premier League and his former charges at Chelsea. He said Gerrard, Ashley Cole and Didier Drogba would be welcome at Real Madrid and would improve as players under his guidance.

But he does not have an unlimited budget and appears to have chosen to shop elsewhere for new recruits.

Mourinho’s signings this summer including German playmakers Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira – for the combined price of what Manchester City paid for James Milner – ­Argentina winger Angel Di Maria, Ricardo Carvalho, Sergio Canales and Pedro Leon.

But England left-back Cole is one target still on Mourinho’s radar following the defender’s rants about “hating” England and his problems with estranged wife Cheryl. Mourinho said: “I admire Ashley, who I know well. He is a quick, clever defender. He has everything I like. He can attack, he can come back, he can push up, he has great position on and off the ball.”

The Real coach, who won the Champions League and domestic double with Inter Milan last season, has also cast his eye towards Drogba and still regards him as the best striker in the Premier League.

Drogba was another pivotal figure in Mourinho’s Chelsea title-winning squad and the coach said: “Didier is a great player. So strong and powerful. He is to me the best striker in England. No question. Of course Real would be interested in Didier.

“Didier, Cole and Gerrard are great players. They would be even better here at Madrid because I am here and they would have more freedom on the pitch.

“So I won’t say I am not ­interested. They would be welcome here.

“We will see. I don’t make promises I can’t keep, but I will try to get the best players for Real Madrid.”

Mourinho also paid tribute to Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard, describing him as “like a vintage wine”.

He added: “Frank is a great player. He will do anything for you. He has strong feet and a strong shot. He is intelligent and never afraid.

“He is like a good vintage wine. The bottle is never finished with certain players, and that is Lampard.”

Mourinho added: “I have players in my head who I want. The board have given me permission to come up with players I need to make the club great again. But I have to be realistic – I have to consider the price.

“We are not shopping in a supermarket for groceries like Barcelona. I only want players who are great players or players I can make great.”

Mourinho: I'd manage Man United, Arsenal, even Spurs or Everton - but never Liverpool

Mourinho launches stinging attack on Capello and says England are in a "mess" and playing “with fear”

It's "crazy" that "fantastic" Scholes isn't playing for England, says Mourinho - Exclusive

Mourinho on Mourinho: “I’m still the Special One, if there were two of me, that would be even better for clubs!”