Football news

Germany defender Philipp Lahm said he is waiting for a signal from Bayern Munich’s bosses to extend his contract past 2012 and wants to commit his long-term future to the club.

Lahm, 26, is under contract at Bayern until June 2012 and wants to sign an extension.

“Things are going well and I am waiting for a signal from the board,” he said.

Lahm and fellow Ballon d’Or nominee Bastian Schweinsteiger, also 26, are in a special category, according to Bayern’s sporting director Christian Nerlinger.

“We will do everything we can to keep them,” he said.

Bayern traditionally use the winter break to discuss contracts.

Mbokani flattered by Tottenham link

Monaco striker Dieumerci Mbokani admits he is flattered by reports linking him with a January move to Tottenham. But the 24-year-old Congo international insists he is happy at his current club, having only joined them from S. Liege in summer.

“I am flattered by the interest shown by Spurs, but I love it at Monaco,” Mbokani said.

“Let’s wait and see – you never know in football.”

Mbokani has scored just once for Monaco, leading to reports he has failed to settle in the Principality.

But he is a proven goalscorer, having netted 35 times in 81 games in Belgium.

Newcastle give backing to Houghton

Newcastle insisted they hope to extend Chris Hughton’s stay as manager amid frenzied speculation that his days could be numbered.

Some bookmakers this week suspended betting on the former Republic of Ireland international leaving St James’ Park with contract negotiations yet to reach a conclusion and his current deal set to expire at the end of the season.

However, the club released a statement after the 4-0 League Cup defeat by Arsenal confirming their plan to retain his services.

The statement said: “Chris is our manager and will remain our manager, and it is our intention to re-negotiate his contract at the end of the year.”

Puel avoids chop despite setback

Embattled Lyon coach Claude Puel has won the backing of club president Jean-Michel Aulas despite the club’s latest setback in being eliminated from the French League Cup.

PSG’s extra-time 2-1 win on Wednesday heaped further pressure on Puel, whose side are struggling in Ligue 1 sitting 14th after only three wins from 10 games.

Only Lyon’s comparatively strong start in the Champions League ap-pears to be keeping Puel in the job.

“Our board has made certain decisions. We’ve had a difficult start to the championship, but our start to the Champions League is largely positive,” Aulas said.

“We’ve decided that the management team currently in place will be maintained.”

Ince takes over at Notts County

Former England and Manchester United midfielder Paul Ince has been appointed as Notts County’s new manager until the summer of 2014.

The 43-year-old Ince takes

over the League One outfit from Craig Short who left the club on Sunday.

Ray Trew, the chairman of the tier three club, said: “Paul has a wealth of experience as a player and a solid track record as a manager in the Football League, making him the obvious choice for me.”

Notts County become Ince’s fourth club as a manager. He previously managed Macclesfield, MK Dons (twice) and Blackburn Rovers.

Hodgson warns United off Reina

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has warned Manchester United that Jose Reina is not for sale. The Spain keeper was linked with the Reds’ arch-rivals earlier this week.

Speculation over the future of Reina has risen because of the recent instability at Anfield and the poor start made by the club to the Premier League season.

But the 28-year-old only signed a six-year contract in April and Hodgson has no intention of letting one of his most prized assets leave.

Hodgson said: “It was just one of those stories that seems to occur – it’s just disappointing and annoying.

“We have heard nothing from Manchester United and, more to the point, we don’t want to hear anything from them.”

Becks backs Real for La Liga crown

David Beckham is backing former club Real Madrid to wrest the league title off arch rivals Barcelona this season.

Madrid have not won a major trophy since 2008 and in the meantime have seen Barca establish themselves as one of the greatest sides in football history.

When asked who he thought out of Barca or Real, Beckham said: “As much as I respect Barcelona, my heart is always with Real Madrid.

“So, I believe that this year, with the manager they’ve got and with Florentino (Perez, Madrid president) they will be number one.”

Beckham, 35, spent four years at Real and won the league in his final season in 2007.