The Sun:
Real Madrid have warned Manchester United: Cut Ruud van Nistelrooy's £16million price tag or the deal is off.
The Spanish giants have offered £12m for the 30-year-old Dutch hitman.
But Real vice-president Juan Mendoza said: "We're about to reach the point where we break off all negotiations for Van Nistelrooy even though the player clearly wants to play for us.
"It's time to make it clear to Manchester United that Real Madrid are not going to be held to ransom over exorbitant prices.
"We've offered what we think Ruud van Nistelrooy is worth and there is no way we are going to drive ourselves crazy trying to meet valuations which don't bear any relation to the market."
The Guardian:
Real Madrid will have to increase their offer for the Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy if they want to take him to Spain, but their president is confident of capturing the Dutch international.
United are believed to be holding out for £15m whereas Real are currently offering only £10m. Sir Alex Ferguson admitted on Tuesday night that he had turned down a bid for the 30-year-old player, but the Bernabéu club refused to return with an increased offer yesterday.
The new Real president Ramón Calderón, however, remains confident that Van Nistelrooy will eventually become one of the four new signings he hopes to unveil next week.
"With regard to Van Nistelrooy, we have to wait," said Calderón. "From what [the club sporting director] Pedja Mijatovic has told me, the player wants to come to Real Madrid but it is normal that Manchester United want to make as much money as possible from the transfer."
It is in the interests of all parties for the transfer to be concluded by the end of the week because Van Nistelrooy is due to report back to United for pre-season training on Monday. He is still officially their player so United still expect the Dutchman to return to Carrington, although given the striker's current relations with the Old Trafford hierarchy it is difficult to see what purpose that would serve. Should he fail to show, as is entirely likely, he would be subject to an automatic fine of two weeks' wages, about £180,000.
Although the money is largely irrelevant, it would be a sad way to mark the exit of a player who last season became only the eighth player in United history to reach a total of 150 goals for the club.
The Telegraph:
As United prepare to open transfer negotiations with Atletico Madrid for £25 million-rated forward Torres over the weekend, Ruud van Nistelrooy remains likely to leave Old Trafford within the next seven days, despite Real Madrid's failure to meet United's £15 million valuation of the Dutch striker.
United's decision to reject Real's offer of £10.5 million, plus a further £3.5 million depending on the Spanish club's future success, has opened the door for Bayern Munich to mount a late raid for Van Nistelrooy, who is due to report back to for pre-season training on Monday should he fail to secure a transfer within the next 72 hours.
PA:
Real Madrid still face competition from Bayern Munich to sign Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, according to the German club's chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
The Holland international is expected to leave Old Trafford in the next few days, with United believed to be holding out for £15million after Real reportedly failed with a £12million bid.
Van Nistelrooy is due back for pre-season training with United on Monday, but Madrid's new coach Fabio Capello - who today signed Juventus pair Fabio Cannavaro and Emerson - insisted: 'We're trying to get him signed.
"Every club wants to bring in important players, but it's the players themselves who have the final word."
Bayern's Karl-Heinz Rummenigge:
"There is a great relationship between the two clubs, and I know van Nistelrooy wants to come to Bayern.
"The chances (of him joining) are changing by the day, but we have not written him off. Roy Makaay was signed in August a few years ago."