• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, January 4, 2012

In an ironic development for a company that some already consider to be “in escrow,” the president of leading Internet escrow service PayPal reportedly is about to be named CEO of Yahoo. Citing unnamed sources, The Wall Street Journal’s All Things D site this morning reported that yet another “dark horse candidate” – PayPal President Scott Thompson – has emerged as the leading contender to be named CEO of Yahoo.

The report, which says Thompson’s appointment could be announced as soon as Thursday morning, is the latest twist in one of Silicon Valley’s – and Madison Avenue’s – favorite digital soap operas, and caps off rounds of speculation that have had everyone from former Publicis digital chief and current Yahoo board member David Kenny to Publicis’ Starcom MediaVest Group CEO Laura Desmond rumored as candidates to fill the Yahoo post, which has been vacant since the company’s board ousted former chief Carol Bartz in September.

While Thompson’s name may be unfamiliar to people in advertising circles, his credentials managing eBay-owned online payment service PayPal, seems like a logical choice to run a company that many consider to be for sale. He certainly doesn’t seem like the most logical choice to run an Internet service whose primary revenue stream is advertising sales.

Calling him a “genuine Internet geek,” All Things D noted that Thompson’s resume is mainly technology-focused. He became president of PayPal in 2008, after serving as its CTO, and previously served in a number of technology roles.