Manchester United’s arrogance as a football club is legendary. It’s part of the reason nobody likes them, but it’s also part of the reason they won 13 Premier League titles in 21 years.

Yet with the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson and all the nasty things that have happened to them since, it seems the Red Devils’ unbreakable self-confidence has taken a dent. Supreme smugness has been replaced by fidgety insecurity, and it’s hard to say which is less attractive.

Today, for example, England’s biggest club have reportedly been reduced to gibbering wrecks because they are scared of some French people.

READ MORE: Gossip – Ozil will stay if he’s No.10, Real Madrid target 5 Premier League stars

READ MORE: Eight players who will leave Liverpool at the end of the season

READ MORE: Big Sam and Simeone are signs of Everton’s identity crisis

The Sun reports that United chiefs are “convinced” Jose Mourinho will quit Old Trafford in the summer and move to Paris Saint-Germain. There’s a photo of Ed Woodward on his phone – looking absolutely terrified – and a claim that Mourinho thinks he can’t compete with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, “either this season or in the future”.

United’s “top brass” are said to be alarmed at the way Mourinho has “openly flirted” with the Ligue 1 leaders. When did they get so needy and possessive? It’s just so unsexy – no wonder Mourinho is looking elsewhere.

Forget what you just read

Although if you read the Mirror, it seems the only place Mourinho is looking is at Samuel Umtiti. Rather than plotting his escape from Manchester, the Special One is said to be seeking to reinforce his United defence with the Barcelona centre-back.

He allegedly wants Umtiti to partner Eric Bailly at the back because Victor Lindelof has “failed to impress” and he is “unconvinced” by Chris Smalling. The Mirror seem to have forgotten about Phil Jones – that kind of thing always happens to him.

Umtiti’s £53m release clause is deemed good value by Mourinho, although there is no suggestion that the 23-year-old Frenchman actually has any interest in a move.

Perhaps the most noteworthy thing on this page, however, is a poll at the bottom asking Mirror readers to “grade” United’s season from A to F. But they’ve also included all the + and – variations so in total there are 16 options. Sixteen! That’s just silly.

We also can’t ignore the Mirror’s claim – even though it sounds strangely familiar – that Real Madrid have made Tottenham striker Harry Kane their “top target” to replace Karim Benzema in the summer. The only thing the Bernabeu giants are worried about is the “notoriously tough negotiating from Daniel Levy”.

Elsewhere, Robert Lewandowski is set for a move to the Premier League after Bayern Munich decided to replace him with Inter Milan forward Mauro Icardi (Sun) Javier Mascherano could return to Liverpool from Barcelona, according to Lionel Messi (Express) and Chelsea want to boost their firepower in January by signing Christian Benteke from Crystal Palace in January (Mirror). A parting practical joke from Antonio Conte before he quits Stamford Bridge, presumably.

@darlingkevin