Jordan Henderson has signed a new long-term deal with Liverpool.

The England international has been one of Brendan Rodgers most consistent performers this term, having become a key feature in the team after a difficult start following his move from Sunderland in 2011.

The 24-year-old has regularly assumed the captaincy due to the reduced playing time of Steven Gerrard.

With club legend Gerrard due to leave for LA Galaxy at the end of the season, Henderson is virtually guaranteed to be named his successor as skipper.

It s brilliant news for me to commit my future to this football club, he told the club s official website. 

I really feel that it s a good time for us to look forward to the future, with the squad we ve got, the manager, the size …

Watford striker Stefano Okaka Chuka is being linked with a January move to Ligue 1, according to France Football.

The 28-year-old has struggled for playing time this season, making just two Premier League appearances so far.

As a result, Watford may be prepared to offload him in the winter, and there are several French sides ready to make their move.

France Football did not reveal the identity of the teams in question, but did suggest they were interested in a loan deal.

Several Ligue 1 sides were impressed with Okaka’s performances for Anderlecht during the 2015/2016 campaign and they now seem ready to rekindle their interest.

…

Championship side Norwich City are once again being linked with Modibo Diakite, the 29-year-old France international currently plying his trade in the Serie A with Sampdoria.

Former Sunderland centre back has been linked with a move to Carrow Road outfit all the way back in 2013, but according to reports from the Italian news agency the Canaries have renewed their interest for the experienced defender.

The player who began his career at youth level with Sampdoria made his return to Italy in 2015 after spells with Sunderland and Deportivo La Coruna.

Norwich City are looking for reinforcements in January in order to boost their chances of sealing a swift return back to the Premier League following their 2015-16 relegation from the English top tier and have identi…

Moussa Diaby capped a dramatic late fightback by snatching a 3-2 victory to put Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16 of the Europa League and knock Celtic out.

Leverkusen knew they would be guaranteed to win Group G by securing all three points at the BayArena on Thursday and Robert Andrich s header gave them an early lead.

The Hoops fought back brilliantly, Josip Juranovic equalising with a cheeky first-half Panenka penalty and Jota sending the travelling fans into raptures when he put them in front after the break.

Celtic were unable to hold on, though, as Andrich levelled and Diaby won it with a fine late volley after 87 minutes to send the Bundesliga side through and consign the Hoops to the UEFA Conference League.

87’ WHAT A GOOOOOOAAAL!!

MOUSSA…

Jean-Clair Todibo seems to be set to return to Barcelona from his loan at Benfica in January.

Having arrived to the Camp Nou in January 2019 under some rather controversial circumstances, the defender spent the second half of last season on loan with Schalke 04. This summer he was reportedly a target for Everton and Fulham, but a move to the Premier League obviously wasn t meant to be as he ended up signing for Benfica in a temporary deal which was supposed to last until the end of the 2021/22 season.

However, recent comments from Benfica head coach Jorge Jesus suggest the loan is about to get cut rather short.

Todibo just recovered from an Achilles tendon problem and has returned to training, and it was expected he would be included in the squad to face Standar…

Tottenham s Emmanuel Adebayor will be out to avenge his 2009 Wembley loss when Spurs take on Chelsea in Sunday s FA Cup semi-final.

Adebayor was a part of the Arsenal team that was beaten by Chelsea in the semi-final three years ago, his only Wembley appearance to date.

The Togolese striker is relishing the prospect of banishing those memories and creating new history with his Tottenham team-mates.

My only appearance at Wembley so far was that 2-1 loss so my memories are not good, Adebayor said.

But this is a new game and we want to win. Football is all about winning medals and they are the moments in life that you can look back on with pride.

Tottenham haven t won a trophy since 2008 and so it would be great to win silverware again. We are tw…

Carlo Ancelotti has urged Real Madrid not to pass up the chance to edge closer to the LaLiga title with an El Clasico victory over arch-rivals Barcelona.

The sides meet at the Bernabeu on Sunday with leaders Madrid eight points clear of second-placed Barca and acutely aware of just how significant a win could be with just seven games of the season remaining.

Ancelotti told a press conference: “If we manage to win it, we’ll be within touching distance of LaLiga.

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden)

“We’re playing against highly competitive opposition who have played brilliantly in recent games. It will be a hard-fought and evenly-matched Clasico, as they always are.

“It’s a great opportunity to move closer to the LaLiga tit…

Pep Guardiola says the EFL Cup is as important to him as any of the four trophies that Manchester City are seeking this season.

The runaway Premier League leaders 15 points clear of Manchester United take on Bristol City on Tuesday in the first contest of a two-legged affair.

Lee Johnson s Robins stunned Jose Mourinho s United in the last round, although City appear an altogether different proposition, having gone unbeaten in domestic competition so far this season.

Their latest triumph was a 4-1 win over Burnley in the FA Cup third round on Saturday and Guardiola says City must begin hoarding silverware if they are to earn a lasting reputation to match their stellar form this term.

Quizzed on the competition s standing in his thoughts, Guardiola said: So…

James Rodriguez is still adapting to life in the Bundesliga, but Jupp Heynckes is satisfied with the midfielder s performances at Bayern Munich.

The Colombia international has started 10 league games since moving to the Allianz Arena from Real Madrid on a two-season loan deal, scoring twice and supplying three assists.

James this week suggested he would be keen to stay at Bayern for many years , and Heynckes is willing to be patient to get the best out of the 2014 World Cup s top goalscorer.

I have said already several times a new player needs some time to integrate, Heynckes told a news conference ahead of Wednesday s visit of Cologne. If you come from abroad many things play a role: the weather, the food, the new team, the other football.

James plays …

Noel Whelan believes that Theo Walcott is better off at Southampton than at Everton.

The former Leeds United striker, who now works as a pundit for BBC Radio Leeds, does not believe that Walcott could make the most of chances he got at the Toffees.

The 31-year-old ex-Arsenal forward returned to his former club Southampton on summer transfer deadline day on a loan deal from Everton.

Walcott was clearly not in Ancelotti’s plans. He was given an opportunity to shine when he first came in but he did not do it. Let’s be honest, he has not done it at Everton since he got there. It was not a good move for player or club.

I think he will be better off at Southampton because the strength in depth now at Everton is fantastic. He is not going to get opportuni…