A move to Benfica appears off for Manchester United fullback Fabio da Silva.

The Mail on Sunday says Sporting Lisbon are favourites to land Manchester United defender Fabio da Silva on loan next season after a falling-out between the Old Trafford club and Benfica.

United are furious that Benfica are strongly linking them to the Portuguese club's £20million playmaker Nicolas Gaitan when it is believed Sir Alex Ferguson has other midfield targets in mind, Tottenham's Luka Modric and Eden Hazard of Lille.

It has allowed Sporting to take the lead in negotiations to sign 21-year-old Fabio on a season-long loan, even though Benfica have also expressed an interest.