Veron happy to stay with United

Juan Sebastian Veron will stay with Manchester United - because he is happy with manager Sir Alex Ferguson's never-ending support.

The Argentina World Cup midfielder has told agent Gustavo Mascardi to nip any bids for him from Italy in the bud due to the backing he has had from Ferguson.

Veron was asked by the South American agent if he wanted to go back to Lazio, but the misfiring midfielder said 'no' to that opportunity.

Mascardi said last night: 'We had a chat with Seba before the Champions League semi-final and he said that he was comfortable at United. He is happy because he has the support of the coach.'

Relations between Ferguson and Mascardi have been strained down the years, and the agent's conciliatory stance may be to encourage a move to Old Trafford for another of his charges, Roberto Ayala.

The Argentina and Valencia defender is on Ferguson's short-list. A new candidate to emerge is England defender Rio Ferdinand of Leeds, who could be the target of a British record £25m bid for a defender.

Top target Lilian Thuram of Juventus could be lured for a fee of around £15m but the Frenchman would demand huge personal terms.

Nigeria World Cup midfielder Jay Jay Okocha's ? 2m- a- year personal terms are putting Bolton Wanderers off a free transfer swoop.

Okocha was manager Sam Allardyce's top summer target after ending his contract with Paris St-Germain, but Allardyce said: ' Unfortunately, people in Europe talk about net salaries rather than gross.' Gillingham striker Guy Ipoua has been banned by FIFA until he pays £10,000 to his old agent and £1,300 in fines and costs after a surprise test case.

Ipoua was found guilty of failing to pay his former agent Mark Steele for work done when he was his client.

Steele had complained to FIFA under new regulations aimed at cracking down on players.

Ipoua's penalty could be repeated with others. His new agent, Mark Curtis, is involved in a dispute over a contract with Bolton's Michael Ricketts.