First one into The Transfer Tavern this morning from The Mirror, who say that Premier League champions Manchester United are set to “sign”  Antonio Valencia for “£16million” from Wigan Athletic.

The paper claiming that Valencia “flew in” on Sunday night to “complete his dream £16million move” to Old Trafford and become United manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s “first signing” of the summer.

It said that the Ecuadorian International “cut short” a break to fly back and “will have a medical” at the Red Devils on Monday, while the “details” of his deal at United are being finalised.

23-year-old Valencia reported to have “been holding out” for a switch to United for “five-months” following Ferguson showing “his hand” by trying to prise the winger away from the JJB Stadium in the January transfer window.

The winger claimed to have “given the brush off” to other suitors Real Madrid and Bayern Munich “because” Valencia wanted to make the short trip across the North West to replace Cristiano Ronaldo at the Premiership giants.

New Latics boss Roberto Martinez is to get given “the cash” from the sale of Valencia and “will go on a signing blitz of his own”, with the winger’s former club Villarreal standing to “take around £3million” from the deal as part of a “sell-on” clause.

The paper saying that Ferguson “waited” for the “price to be right” for Valencia and did not “want to over-pay” to land the Ecuadorian, who “can expect to quadruple” his salary at Old Trafford in a “deal worth around £75,000-a-week”.

So was it water, wine or whisky fuelling this tale from the Mirror? Have Man United really signed Valencia for £16million? Should this rumour Fly or Die?