Paper Round: Scholes set to re-retire?

The midfielder has been credited with inspiring United over the past six months, with many onlookers saying that the 37-year-old has looked able to continue to do a key job for his club.

But having reversed his decision to retire in January, Scholes has not put pen to paper on an extension to his deal beyond the end of the season.

And the paper claims Scholes has doubts about the merits of continuing his playing career for another 12 months.

Ferguson is determined to keep him on, but will have to persuade Scholes to follow the lead of Ryan Giggs, who is contracted until the summer of 2013.

Papiss Cisse’s blistering form in Premier League football could see him leave the country after just six months, reports today’s Times.

The Newcastle United striker has been so good since his arrival in January that he has caught the eye of Real Madrid, who are prepared to move for him.

The Spanish champions will be in the market for a forward should Gonzalo Higuain leave the club in frustration at a lack of first-team opportunities, and Cisse’s transfer value has risen substantially since the Magpies bought him from Freiburg for £10m.

It’s all change at Arsenal, according to the back pages.

The Times and the Daily Mail reckon that Steve Bould has beaten Tony Adams in the race to replace the retiring Pat Rice as Arsene Wenger’s assistant manager.

The Mirror, meanwhile, says that the Gunners are ready to splash out £17m to sign France midfielder Yann M’Vila – provided that they ensure Champions League football for next season.

But the same paper also reports that plans to bring Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen to the Emirates could be hijacked by Manchester United.

The Telegraph warns that the major squad overhaul United fans might like to see this summer won’t necessarily happen, saying that finishing the season without a trophy could cost the Red Devils as much as £20m.

Chelsea are set to make one final take-it-or-leave-it offer to Didier Drogba, according to The Sun.

Having rejected a one-year deal, Drogba will be offered a two-year deal subject to continued strong displays next season.

Meanwhile the search for the new Chelsea manager continues, with the Mirror and the Daily Express reporting that Pep Guardiola has turned down a £12m-a-year wage package – meaning that Roberto Di Matteo is inching closer to the permanent job.

In other transfer titbits, high-flying Fulham are set to complete a £10m swoop for Dutch stars Luciano Narsingh and Oussama Assaidi from Heerenveen, with the Eredivisie club having accepted the offer (The Sun).

And the Daily Star says that Manchester City have turned their attention to Montpellier midfielder Younes Belhanda for a fee of around £7m after a move for Eden Hazard, rated at £30m, broke down.

That saving should leave plenty of cash over at the Etihad to pay the squad of players a £250,000-per-person bonus should they wrap up the league title at the weekend, as reported in several papers.