Manchester United have sent a written apology to Everton over their handling of David Moyes' recruitment.
The Mirror says Old Trafford officials have said sorry in an attempt to diffuse the row, which threatened to escalate into a full-scale complaint to the Premier League.
Moyes - by his own admission - was approached by United months before the official announcement of his appointment.
Everton have also been stung by United revealing the Scot would replace Sir Alex Ferguson almost three weeks before the end of last season, ignoring the effect such a revelation would have on the end of the Toffees' campaign.