World Football Gossip Roundup: Fabio, M'Vila, Maxi Lopez, Drogba, Vertonghen

In today's B/R world football gossip roundup, Fabio is all but gone at Manchester United, Yann M'Vila is used as coach bait and Brendan Rodgers is Spurs' Plan B.

Elsewhere, Maxi Lopez wants to stay with AC Milan, Nicolas Anelka wants Didier Drogba in China, Newcastle want Jan Vertonghen (or maybe they don't) and two big European clubs want a Colombian striker (according to the Colombian striker).

All that and more inside. Keep reading for the details.

Fabio Agent Confirms Loan

The agent of Manchester United's Fabio says the defender will likely join Benfica on loan this summer. Fabio will reportedly be involved in a deal to bring Nicolas Gaitan to Old Trafford.

From The Telegraph:

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Fabio has been told he will go out on loan for a season by Sir Alex Ferguson and has been ear-marked as Benfica’s first-choice left-back. It has been a problem position for the Portuguese club all season and they are pushing to sign Fabio on a permanent basis.

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His agent Cassiano Pereira said on Monday: “There is a high possibility that Fabio will go to Benfica. Alex Ferguson has talked with me and Fabio about this possibility and the next two or three weeks we should know our position.”

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The report says Manchester United will also move Anderson this summer, though a destination was not listed.

M'Vila and Blanc to Inter?

Arsenal target Yann M'Vila is wanted by Inter Milan, who hope to lure manager Laurent Blanc to the San Siro this summer.

Blanc is currently the manager of France. M'Vila, 21, currently plays midfield for Rennes.

Metro reports:

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Blanc, also wanted by Chelsea, is currently settled as an international manager, but Inter hope that a large pay rise and the promise of funds to re-build the ageing squad will be enough to tempt the 46-year-old back into club management.

If that's not enough, Inter will also attempt to sign Rennes star Yann M'Vila - who is expected to play a key role under Blanc at Euro 2012 - with French paper L'Equipe saying his signature could prove pivotal in tempting 'Le Président' to the San Siro.

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M'Vila's pricetag is reportedly around £15 million.

Maxi Lopez to Stay with Milan?

Elsewhere in Milan, Maxi Lopez's agent says the Argentine striker will stay with AC Milan next season.

Lopez joined Milan on loan from Catania in January.

Goal.com reports:

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The Argentine has only made eight Serie A appearances for Milan, but his agent is confident that the former Barcelona forward has convinced the Italian champions to exercise their buying option.

"He will stay at Milan, because he has shown in the few minutes he has been given in matches and in practice sessions that he is a great player and a true champion," Andrea D'Amico told Radio Lombardia.

"He has physical strength, class and finishing prowess, which is something that is not easy to find."

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AC Milan trail Juventus by one point atop the Serie A table.

Anelka Wants Drogba in China

Halfway around the world, former Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka now serves as player/manager for Shanghai Shenhua.

Anelka only joined the club in January, but now he's reportedly eyeing a summer move for former teammate Didier Drogba.

Drogba is out of contract in the summer.

Newcastle Scout Vertonghen

Newcastle United are dark-horse candidates for fourth place in the English Premier League.

Now the Magpies might be dark-horse candidates to sign Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen from Ajax. Or not. It's hard to tell.

From The Telegraph:

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Newcastle’s chief scout, Graham Carr, has been monitoring Vertonghen for at least two years and Pardew, the manager, has also been to see the 24 year-old play on a number of occasions.

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However, their interest appeared to have ended as a deal for FC Twente centre-back Douglas has virtually been agreed, which should mean that the Brazilian defender moves to Tyneside for around £5 million in the summer.

Pardew, though, is keen to bring in two players in that position, as well as Holland left-back Erick Pieters from PSV Eindhoven, and as Newcastle’s push for a Champions League gains momentum, Vertonghen remains a viable option.

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Make of that what you will.

Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal have also been linked with Vertonghen.

Liverpool, Porto Chase Colombian?

Liverpool and Porto want Colombian striker Jackson Martinez. So says Colombian striker Jackson Martinez.

From talkSport:

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Scouts from Anfield have reportedly watched him in action this season and he is available for around £4m—but Porto are also in the hunt.

Martinez told Colombian newspaper Nuevo Estadio: "I am not in any advanced negotiations with Liverpool or Porto but I know they are personally interested.

"I have not spoken to anyone and that goes for my club and my agent.

"In the next few months things should be finalised."

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Martinez, 25, currently plays for Jaguares in Mexico.

Rodgers to Spurs?

According to The Sun, Tottenham Hotspur could move for Swansea City boss Brendan Rodgers if Harry Redknapp becomes England's manager this summer.

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Ideally Tottenham would install Carlo Ancelotti as Redknapp’s replacement but the ex-Chelsea chief would have to be sacked by Paris St-Germain for that to happen.

And, although PSG have won only one of their last five games as they battle for the French title with Montpellier, Ancelotti is expected to keep his job even if they finish second.

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And according to The Guardian, Spurs midfielder Scott Parker says it's fourth place or bust.

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"We can't keep looking back, we can't keep feeling sorry for ourselves," Parker said. "We need to look forward now. That's exactly what we said in the dressing room [after the Chelsea defeat]. We were very disappointed. We lost our shape at times searching for a goal.

"But we've got five games left and we need to dust ourselves off, and try and win them. We have to stay positive and try and grind out the rest of the season, and finish fourth. That's our priority."

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Methinks a double disappointment is heading Spurs' way.

Wolves Sell-off Begins?

Finally, the vultures are circling over Wolves, who almost certainly will suffer relegation this season.

In this case, those vultures come in the form of rival Premiership clubs.

According to the Daily Mirror, Sunderland want Scottish striker Steven Fletcher.

And according to the Daily Star, QPR want goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey.