The Red Devils can rest easy, says Metro. Why? Because Real Madrid have "cooled their interest" in David de Gea.
The will-he-won't-he saga surrounding the United goalkeeper and his rumoured return to his native Spain has been going on for the best part of two years, and in recent weeks gossip has suggested the European champions were going to make another big push to prise him from Old Trafford this summer.
But Metro now says "Real will not make any fresh move for de Gea" because coach Zinedine Zidane is content with his current number one Keylor Navas.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Latest Videos FromThe Week
But that's not the end of the matter by any means, because the Spaniards could well have another crack at De Gea in 12 months, when he enters the final year of his contract, and there is the possibility that United will be looking to sell before he gets the chance to leave on a free in 2019.
In the meantime Real's reticence is bad news for the keeper with Metro claiming that United were ready to offer him a pay increase in attempt to secure his loyalty. But with Real backing off, de Gea won't now receive a top-up to his modest £200,000-a-week wages with the paper saying that the United hierarchy are "happy to wait for another few months before resuming talks over a new deal".
Meanwhile the Manchester Evening News claims that United have "opened talks with Zlatan Ibrahimovic's agent to bring the star striker back to Old Trafford".
Currently recuperating from a serious knee injury, the string Swedish sharpshooter is making good progress and the MEN says he could be in line for a "sensational return" to the Red Devils. According to Sky Italia United "are in negotiations" with his agent, Mino Raiola, about a new deal when he is back to full fitness some time in the autumn.
