Red Devils in for Benfica star and other red-hot gossip

(15-01-2011) Benfica left-back Fabio Coentrao is being tracked by Manchester United. According to reports, Red Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson views the Portugal international as a replacement for Patrice Evra, who could move abroad in the summer. United will however face stiff competition for the 22-year-old from Real Madrid. Elsewhere, Tottenham are interested in Marseilles left-back Tay Taiwo, who has entered the final six months of his current deal with the French club; Inter Milan are lining up a £17m summer bid for Manchester City's 29-year-old midfielder Gareth Barry; Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar will reject Chelsea to sign for Tottenham next week; Aston Villa are stepping up their efforts to sign Wigan left-back Maynor Figueroa after the club allowed Stephen Warnock to return to Liverpool on loan; and Manchester United, Chelsea and Inter Milan are all interested in Udinese winger Alexis Sanchez.