Manchester United fear terms demanded to sign Inter Milan star Wesley Sneijer will kill hopes of a deal.
The Daily Express says, however, it is understood the Dutchman could yet move to Old Trafford if the Italian club relent on their £35 million valuation.
Senior figures at United suggested that interest in the 27 year-old had ended and that Sneijder's £190,000-a-week salary demands would break the club's pay ceiling.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson hinted at the barriers which have led United to review their moves to sign Sneijder.
He said: "There is no real interest in Sneijder at this moment in time for a lot of reasons. I've not been involved in that since I came over here."
Pointedly, however, Ferguson did not say that the deal might not eventually happen.
