Paper Round: Zlatan Ibrahimovic to quit if United miss out on Champions League

The Mirror reports on Thursday that Manchester United's star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will move on in the summer if the club fails to secure passage to the Champions League next season.

United signed Ibrahimovic for just one season last year, with the possibility to extend for one more season. With the Europa League quite possibly the only game in town to cement a place in Europe's top competition for United next season, Ibrahimovic is said to be ready to walk unless he sees "clear evidence" of trophy prospects for the club in the foreseeable.

Paper Round's view: Never mind if Ibrahimovic wants to stay on at Old Trafford - do they even want him?

There's no denying at 35-years-old, Zlatan still has it, with an impressive goal tally this season despite being dismissed as "past it" ahead of last summer's move.

That said, his days in the Premier League can only be numbered and if he's United's only plan, they're well in need of a back up.

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The Daily Mirror leads with reports that the Premier League is on high alert over the Easter weekend fixtures after an attack against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night.

Dortmund defender Marc Bartra was injured in the attack, which police said involved three explosive devices planted near the team bus, and is being treated as terror-related.

Paper Round's view: Events that unfolded on Tuesday night as the team travelled to their Champions League quarter final against AS Monaco were truly shocking. It's absolutely right that the authorities take all the necessary precautions to protect teams and fans from such events.

That said, Paper Round hopes that the football community will continue to rally round and unite in the face of Tuesday's terrifying scenes.

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Alvaro Morata admitted on Wednesday that a couple of London clubs caught his eye last season, as he considered a departure from Real Madrid.

He said: "I spoke directly to Mauricio Pochettino and Antonio Conte...Madrid said they didn't want to sell, so here I am."

The striker added: "I remember talking to my dad and him saying: 'This guy [Conte] is going to win the league there.'

"I have never had the fortune to actually work with him [Conte]. I am sure sooner or later I will."

Paper Round’s view: Though Real might not have wanted to see Morata leave, the Spaniard has been repeatedly linked with a move to the Premier League.

His comments that if he were to leave the Bernabeu he would "almost certainly" go to London could be seen as a "come get me" plea to clubs he clearly has much admiration for.

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Jose Mourinho fuelled speculation about David de Gea's rumoured move to Real Madrid by, er, responding to the speculation.

As Paper Round reported on Wednesday, Manchester United are said to be worried over reports that their No.1's head has been turned by an offer from Real Madrid.

Mourinho commented on De Gea's missed game against Sunderland at the weekend and the possible distraction of reported interest by Real, saying: "I am not interested in speculation. If the player is, he shouldn't be playing for very important things and every match for us is crucial."

Paper Round's view: As Paper Round mentioned on Wednesday, this isn't the first time De Gea has been linked with a move to Madrid. De Gea's sidelining ahead of crucial end of season fixtures and Mourinho's subsequent comments don't exactly bat the rhetoric around the goalkeeper's "distraction" away. That said, there might be other issues Mourinho would be more worried about drawing attention to.

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