Manchester City midfielder Abdul Razak has signed a permanent deal with Russian Premier League side Anzhi Makhachkala, according to the club s official website, .

Razak, 20, joined City from Crystal Palace for an undisclosed fee in the summer of 2010.

The Côte d Ivoire international made his English Premier League debut for the club on 5 February 2011 against West Bromwich Albion, coming on as a substitute for David Silva.

Razak, who made 10 senior appearances for Manchester City, spent time on loan in the English Championship with Portsmouth, Brighton Hove Albion and Charlton Athletic before returning to the Etihad Stadium last season.

Ivory Coast international midfielder Abdul Razak has joined Anzhi on a permanent basis, read a stateme…

Austria international goalkeeper Jurgen Macho has signed a three-year deal with Greek top flight side Panionios, his agent said on Friday.

Macho, who suffered a hand injury last season, was left without a club after Austrian side Linz did not offer him a contract extension.

Despite receiving several offers from Bundesliga clubs in Germany, Macho turned them all down because he was not guaranteed to play as the number one keeper.

It will be Macho s second spell in Greece. From 2007 to 2009 he was at AEK Athens but failed to nail down the number one spot.

Previously, Macho, who has 19 caps for Austria but did not play in his country s World Cup qualifying campaign, appeared for Sunderland, Rapid Vienna and Kaiserslautern.

…

Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet says Jurgen Klopp s faith in him as number one at Anfield was a key reason behind him agreeing a new five-year deal on Merseyside.

The Belgium international s new long-term contract was confirmed on Monday, although Mignolet has come in for criticism at times this season due to some inconsistent performances.

However, Klopp has constantly backed his goalkeeper dismissing the prospect of bringing in Jack Butland of Stoke City or Barcelona s Marc-Andre ter Stegen as replacements.

And Mignolet says he has taken great confidence from Klopp s public backing.

Ever since I arrived here we have been going in the right direction, the former Sunderland goalkeeper told the Liverpool s official website.

Also, with the …

Ligue 1 outfit Montpellier have appointed Frederic Hantz as their new coach for the remainder of the 2015-16 season. 

Hantz, 49, has not been in the dugout since the end of 2013-14 after a four year spell with Bastia. 

The duo of Pascal Baills and Bruno Martini had been in charge of Montpellier for the past month following the departure of Rolland Courbis, but failed to win a game in Ligue 1.

Courbis resigned in December after the club endured a difficult start to their season, which included a winless run of seven games at the beginning of the campaign. 

Hantz will be officially presented on Wednesday after taking his first training session with his new club. 

Montpellier are 18th in the table after 22 games and sit just two points abov…

Pep Guardiola insists Manchester City s trip to Liverpool next weekend is not make or break for his side s Premier League title hopes.

The reigning champions head to Anfield sitting six points behind the pacesetters following dramatic comeback victories for both sides on Saturday.

City snatched a 2-1 win at home to Southampton thanks to a late Kyle Walker strike, while Liverpool left it even later to see off Aston Villa by the same scoreline.

However, Guardiola will not panic if his side fail to close the gap on Sunday, having made up a seven-point deficit in the second half of 2018-19 to pip Liverpool to top spot.

Oh you ve got to love it! 

— Manchester City (@ManCity)

Asked if his side needed to end a 15-year wait for a l…

Rafael Benitez praised the fight of Salomon Rondon after his two goals downed Bournemouth at St James Park and predicted there is more to come from the Newcastle United striker.

Rondon netted with an early strike that was followed up by a thumping header, his first Premier League goals for the club sealing a 2-1 win, Jefferson Lerma scoring the visitors goal.

After no victories in their first 10 top-flight matches of the season, Newcastle have now won two league games on the bounce for the first time since April and risen to 14th in the table.

Benitez liked what he saw, backing Rondon to get even better if he can get fitter.

Rondon did well, he has to improve his fitness but he was working well and trying to fight the defenders, Benitez said as quoted by…

There has been plenty of speculation around Erling Haaland s contract with Manchester City lately. Reports coming from Spain first said the Norwegian sensation had a special Real Madrid clause which would enable the 14-time European champions to sign him even against the will of the Premier League title holders in 2024, but City boss Pep Guardola quickly denied the existence of such a clause.

But in a fresh turn of events, have revealed that Haaland actually has a release clause in his contract which kicks in in 2024, and it can be triggered by any club outside England, not just Real Madrid, by forking out €200 million.

City, however, need not worry about it just yet, and not just because there s almost two years still to go until the summer of 2024, but also because…

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has not agreed a January move to Juventus, according to Lazio owner Claudio Lotito.

The Serbian midfielder has impressed this season with three goals and seven assists in his nine Serie A games, helping Maurizio Sarri s side climb to third.

Such form is said to have piqued the interest of Juventus, with reports suggesting the Bianconeri will plan to offer up to €60million, including bonuses.

But Lotito told Il Messaggero: I have no agreement with his agent [Mateja] Kezman to sell him to Juventus or anyone else in the winter.

On the contrary, he is now worth €120m, not €100m. Every month the price goes up.

Most in-form players in Europe s top 5 leagues:

Leo Messi 8.77 form rating
Erling Haaland 8.58
Sergej…

Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen has hinted he could leave the club in search of UEFA Champions League football.

The Belgium international is in the middle of his second season with the club, but has so far seen his European involvement at White Hart Lane limited to UEFA Europa League games.

After Spurs fell six points behind fourth-placed Liverpool following Sunday s defeat to Norwich City, Vertonghen remains hopeful of playing in the Champions League with his current club.

However, he has also suggested he may consider his future if Tim Sherwood s men fail to qualify for Europe s premier club competition this season.

Asked whether he would be content to remain at Spurs without Champions League football, Vertonghen is reported as saying by the British media: …

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech believes the club are well-prepared to cope with the pressure of a Premier League title run-in.

Jose Mourinho s side hold a seven-point lead at the summit but have played more matches than the rest of the top four.

Manchester City could prove Chelsea s biggest rivals, sitting nine points behind with three games in hand, as Mourinho looks to secure his first silverware since returning to Stamford Bridge.

However, Cech feels Chelsea have what it takes to hold off their rivals and win a first league title since 2010.

In the past, it s fair to say we ve not let leads slip. Of course, this is a different team and a different scenario, a different season, so it is hard to compare. But we know how to play under pressure until the last game, …