Inaki Astiz returns to Legia Warsaw

Watford have agreed a new five-year deal with captain Troy Deeney, ending reports linking him with a move to Premier League champions Leicester City.

Deeney enjoyed an impressive debut season in the top flight last term, scoring 13 times and supplying seven assists as Watford finished 13th.

The 28-year-old was a reported target in January for Arsenal, while the Hornets are believed to have turned down an offer of £30 million from Leicester since the end of the 2015-16 campaign.

Deeney, though, will now remain at Vicarage Road until 2021 and said:  This club really means business and I want to be part of this.

I ve listened carefully to everything the club has had to say to me recently. We ve talked things through in a sensible way – and it s helped …

Germany coach Joachim Low has reiterated his gratitude for the solidarity shown to his players on the night of the Paris terror attacks but insisted it will not be a factor in Thursday s Euro 2016 semi-final in Marseille.

It was November 13, 2015 when a series of atrocities were carried out across the French capital killing 130 people with one bomb set off outside the Stade de France where France were hosting the world champions in an international friendly.

When it became apparent after the final whistle that the players safety would be compromised if they left the venue, both teams camped down on mattresses at the ground with the French team refusing to leave until their German counterparts had been cleared to depart.

Low said: The French really helped us wher…

FC Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala is flattered by reports linking him with a summer move to Manchester United, .

Mangala, 22, joined the Portuguese Primeira Liga champions from Belgian Pro League side Standard Liege for €6.5 million in August 2011.

According to reports, Manchester United are among a number of clubs keeping tabs on the France Under-21 international as Sir Alex Ferguson looks to bolster his defensive options ahead of next season.

Mangala is flattered by the rumoured nexus between him and Old Trafford, but insisted Porto would have their say in any potential deal.

I am definitely flattered by the interest of such a big club like Manchester United, any player would be, the France youth international told Sky Sports.

…

Adelaide United coach John Kosmina said the club did everything they could to sign Marcos Flores before he joined rivals Melbourne Victory.

Flores, a cult hero and influential figure during his time with Adelaide, signed a two-year deal with the Victory last Wednesday worth a reported $1.1 million.

The Argentinean s decision caused uproar with the Reds faithful who believed their club were in the box seat to sign the 2011 Johnny Warren medallist after his contract with Chinese Super League club Henan Jianye was terminated by mutual consent.

In an official statement released by the Reds, salary cap restrictions and a difference in negotiations were listed as the reasons behind the club s failure to lure Flores back, as a group of wealthy Adelaide businessmen trie…

Xavi says Barcelona are very optimistic that their new signings will be registered, but they may not all be given the green light for their first match of the LaLiga season against Rayo Vallecano.

Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie have arrived at Camp Nou since the end of last season, but there is uncertainty over whether they will be able to make their competitive debuts on Saturday.

The Catalan giants have been busy trying to raise funds in order to meet LaLiga s salary limits ahead of the season and activated a fourth economic lever on Friday.

Barca sold a further 24.5 per cent of their production company for €100million, having also agreed a hugely lucrative sponsorship deal with Spotify and sold …

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed his opposition to suggestions the Champions League should expand in a move that could mean more games for Europe s elite teams.

According to a Daily Mail report, leading Premier League clubs including Liverpool are backing plans that could see the Champions League significantly restructured.

The group stage could grow from a six-match commitment to 10 games per team, the British newspaper said. Such a step could boost earnings potential but also have an impact on existing domestic football schedules.

Klopp s team lead the Premier League, and in the coming week they head to Qatar to compete in the Club World Cup, after earning a place in that event by winning the Champions League.

Injuries are beginning to take…

Australian clubs are interested in Brazil great Ronaldinho after it was announced the attacking midfielder was leaving Atletico Mineiro.

The 34-year-old 2002 FIFA World Cup winner has been at Atletico since June 2012, but coach Levir Culpi said on Monday the gifted playmaker was leaving.

Player agent Lou Sticca, who helped bring Juventus great Alessandro Del Piero to the A-League, said it was possible the former Barcelona and Milan man could also make the move.

Some calls have already been made and now it s up to A-League clubs to make a play for him, he told Fox Sports.

Anything s possible and he s exactly the sort we should be bringing here.

A host of clubs around the world are sure to be interested in securing the services of the two-time FI…

Southampton are holding out for £40m for Liverpool target Saido Mane, .

The Senegal international has been one of the stand out performers for the Saints over the last two seasons, with his form also leading to interest from Manchester United back in January.

Liverpool are keen to secure the services of the forward as they look to strengthen their squad ahead of Jurgen Klopp’s first full season in charge of the Merseyside club.

Since arriving at St Mary’s from Red Bull Salzburg in the summer of 2014, the twenty-four year old has racked up seventy-five appearances for the south coast club in all competitions, scoring twenty-five goals.

Should the transfer materialize, he would become the latest in long line of players to move from Southampton to …

Italy footballer Marco Materazzi has won a hefty libel payout from British newspaper The Sun over claims that he called France s Zinedine Zidane the son of a terrorist whore, his lawyer said Thursday.

Britain s biggest-selling daily, which published an apology in May 2008, has agreed an out-of-court damages settlement, the Inter Milan defender s lawyer Steven Heffer said.

Materazzi has accepted an undisclosed six-figure pound (dollar, euro) sum over claims that he used vile, racist abuse during the 2006 World Cup final at Berlin s Olympic Stadium.

The 35-year-old brought High Court libel proceedings over a series of British tabloid articles over the incident in football s biggest showpiece final.

After a verbal altercation in extra time, midfielder Zidan…

Zenit St Petersburg coach Luciano Spalletti has appealed for calm after the Russian side s poor run of form continued.

Despite the late signings of Brazil international Hulk and Belgium midfielder Axel Witsel in the transfer window, Zenit have only won once in five games, culminating in the Champions League defeat to Malaga and the 2-2 draw to Kryliya Sovetov on Saturday.

Spalletti, who steered Zenit to the Russian Premier League title in 2010 and 2012, has insisted the team will bounce back, and that everything will be alright .

The fact is that the team isn t calm mentally, because some players feel that it s the right thing to be upset right now, the Italian trainer told the club s official website.

They need to understand that the way they re think…