World Football Gossip Roundup: Kevin Strootman, Oscar Cardozo, Roberto Mancini

It's not often that fans have the chance to directly affect the future of their club, but that's exactly what is about to happen in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.

Major League Soccer's Seattle Sounders are set for a big vote in the coming weeks, and it's one that will determine the fate of a major club official.

Seattle's experiment in democracy is the big teaser in this Thursday edition of the B/R World Football Gossip Roundup, but there are also updates on Kevin Strootman, Oscar Cardozo, Roberto Mancini and Jack Wilshere.

Keep reading for the details.

Kevin Strootman Ready to Leave PSV?

Kevin Strootman wants to leave PSV Eindhoven during the January transfer window, according to the player's agent (via Metro).

Strootman, 22, is a rising Dutch international midfielder with 11 caps. He joined PSV from Utrecht in 2011.

Manchester United, Real Madrid and AC Milan are thought to be interested in signing Strootman, whose agent said:

"

Strootman has had a good time in Eindhoven, but he decided that he wants to prove himself in a better league. If an agreement is able to be reached with a potentially interested club, PSV will allow Kevin to leave in January.

"

Oscar Cardozo on Verge of New Benfica Contract

Paraguayan forward Oscar Cardozo is ready to sign a new contract with Benfica, according to reports in Portugal. The contract would include a €60 million buyout clause (via talkSPORT).

Chelsea and Everton had been linked with the 29-year-old Cardozo, who joined Benfica in 2007 from Newell's Old Boys.

Cardozo has won 42 caps with Paraguay, scoring nine goals.

Agent: Arsenal Not Chasing Iceland Striker

Arsenal have not inquired about Icelandic striker Aron Johannsson, according to the player's agent (via Sky Sports).

The Gunners had been linked with Johannsson, a 21-year-old forward who scored a four-minute hat trick last month in the Danish Superliga. Johannsson has scored 10 league goals for AGF Aarhus in 10 matches this season.

The player's agent said:

"

[W]e have heard nothing from Arsenal and at the moment we are concentrating on extending the deal with AGF. We are in regular contact with AGF and if they deliver an interesting enough proposal then we would be interested in extending the deal.

"

Johannsson has represented Iceland nine times at the Under-21 level.

In other Arsenal news, midfielder Jack Wilshere is expected to play for the club's U-21 team at West Brom on Monday (via ESPN FC).

Wilshere, 20, has missed more than a year through injury.

Maicon: Roberto Mancini Has Passion

Manchester City defender Maicon has likened manager Roberto Mancini's passion to that of Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson (via Daily Mirror).

Maicon, 31, joined City at the transfer deadline but previously played under the Italian at Inter Milan. He said:

"

All winning coaches are the same—if Ferguson has the hairdryer, Roberto has the same passion. All winning managers are the same and they show this passion to the players because they really want to win. Roberto is no different. He’s a winning manager like the other ones so he has the same passion.

"

By using the term hairdryer, Maicon was referring to Ferguson's famous temper. Former United player and current QPR boss Mark Hughes first used the term to describe Ferguson's locker-room tirades (via Daily Mail).

Seattle Sounders Fans to Vote on Future of Club Official

Select fans of the Seattle Sounders, a Major League Soccer club, will vote on the future of general manager Adrian Hanauer (via Seattle Times).

Season ticket holders and "Alliance" members can vote on whether or not the club will retain Hanauer. The vote will be valid only with 10,000 votes.

Complete details are available at SoundersFCVote.com.

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