Middlesbrough defender Ben Gibson has signed a new five-year contract with the Premier League newcomers.

The 23-year-old, who has made more than 100 appearances for the club, made his top-flight debut last weekend against Stoke City.

Gibson said: “I’m over the moon. I just want to make sure the next five years are in the Premier League with this club.”

The Teessider joins Daniel Ayala and George Friend in penning new deals to commit their long-term futures to Boro.

Lukaku withdraws transfer request

Everton striker Romelu Lukaku has withdrawn his request for a transfer and committed his future to Everton, manager Ronald Koeman said yesterday.

The Belgian international, 23, had asked for a move away from the Premier League outfit but changed his mind and is now back in training, Koeman said.

“Ten days before the transfer deadline he came into the manager’s office and said he was no longer leaving and had decided to stay at Everton,” Koeman said.

“His decision is the same value as a big money transfer.”

Lukaku has scored 43 goals in 104 Everton appearances but had been linked with a return to Chelsea in recent months.

Werner: Liverpool is not for sale

Liverpool chairman Tom Werner is adamant the English club is not for sale.

There has been regular speculation about offers being made to Fenway Sports Group in the last 18 months and as recently as April a report claimed Chinese company SinoFortone, backed by the national government, had made a £700 million approach.

Reds officials privately dismissed the credence of that and Werner has now re-stated FSG’s intentions.

“We’ve said it before and I’d like to say it again: this club is not for sale,” the American said.

“I’d say that from time to time somebody says they have made an offer to us but they are really saying that just for publicity.”

Benteke signs for Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace have broken their transfer record to sign striker Christian Benteke from Liverpool on a four-year deal.

The Eagles confirmed the capture of the 25-year-old Belgium international after the clubs agreed a fee of an initial £27 million plus add-ons.

The move comfortably dwarfs Palace’s previous record purchase, set only this summer when they bought Andros Townsend from Newcastle for £13m.

“I’m very happy to commit my future to Crystal Palace and I’m looking forward to meeting the manager, the players and the staff,” Benteke told Palace’s official website.

Icardi set to prolong his Inter contract

Reports in Italy yesterday said that Inter captain Mauro Icardi will be signing a new contract that will tie him to the San Siro outfit until 2021.

Icardi, through his agent and wife Wanda Nara, had been pushing for a transfer this summer, saying Inter had broken their promises to increase his wages.

But Gazzetta dello Sport revealed that a new deal has now been agreed upon and that Icardi will be earning €5m a year, almost double the money he is currently getting from Inter.

The contract will include a release clause set to be in the region of €80 million.

Icardi played 105 matches for Inter, scoring 52 goals.

Pereyra leaves Juve for Watford

Watford have signed midfielder Roberto Pereyra from Italian champions Juventus, the Premier League club said.

No financial details were disclosed but media reports said Juve received a fee of £12.9 million for Pereyra.

The 25-year-old, who featured in the 2015 Champions League final defeat by Barcelona, scored six goals in 68 matches for Juve and helped them secure back-to-back Serie A and Italian Cup trophies in the last two seasons.

On Friday, Watford also completed the transfer of defender Younes Kaboul from Premier League rivals Sunderland.

Celtic face sanctions over Palestine flags

UEFA have opened disciplinary proceedings against Celtic after some supporters displayed Palestine flags during their UEFA Champions League qualifier against Israeli side Hapoel Be’er Sheva.

The Parkhead club have been punished eight times in five seasons by the European governing body for supporter misconduct and face further sanctions when the case is dealt with on September 22.

A statement on UEFA’s official website confirmed the “illicit banner” charges, which pertain to Article 16 (2) of the UEFA disciplinary regulations.

Dozens of Palestine flags were displayed during Celtic’s 5-2 first-leg win on Wednesday, many of them in the new safe standing section at Parkhead.

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