From the back pages, March 4: Fergie denies talk of a cut-price Man United return for Cristiano Ronaldo

The Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United transfer story rumbles on this weekend, with The Sun reporting that the Real Madrid star will take a massive pay cut to return to Old Trafford. It’s claimed that Ronaldo would accept half of the massive wage packet PSG are prepared to pay him as part of a double summer swoop that would also see Jose Mourinho moving to France. However Sir Alex Ferguson insists that Manchester United have been given “no encouragement” to launch a bid to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford. (The Mirror)

Tottenham had first-half goals from Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon to thank for firing them seven points clear of Arsenal and back into third. (The Sun)

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was far from happy with his side’s performance in either box, but rejected suggestions that Tottenham were now the number one side in north London. “That’s not the impression I got from the game today,” he said on Sky Sports News. (The Independent)

England appear certain to persevere with Nick Compton as their Test match opener and resist the temptation of instead fast-tracking Joe Root up the order against New Zealand. (The Telegraph)

Great Britain were disqualified and then given the gold medal in the men’s 4 x 400-metre relay at the European Indoor Championships after a successful protest. (Daily Mail)

New Zealand cricket riven by intrigue ahead of England Test series. Black Caps are unsettled by controversy surrounding Ross Taylor who took a break from the game after losing captaincy. (The Guardian)

The long coach journey yesterday out of the mountains and across the South Island from spectacular, holidaying Queenstown to more prosaic Dunedin was a symbolic one for Alastair Cook’s England team. (The Times)

Guus Hiddink could return to Chelsea at the end of the season. The Dutchman, who is manager of Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala, won the FA Cup in his three months at Stamford Bridge as caretaker boss in 2009. (The Express)