• Premier League

Newcastle yet to receive Liverpool bid for Enrique

ESPN staff
August 4, 2011
Jose Enrique has been linked to an £8 million summer move to Liverpool © PA Photos
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Alan Pardew has revealed Newcastle have not received a "concrete" approach for Jose Enrique, but the manager is braced for the defender's departure.

Enrique has been linked to a move all summer, rejecting the chance to sign a new contract at St James' Park in order to seek a club challenging for silverware. The Spanish left-back also expressed frustration on Twitter, insisting Newcastle will never improve while they sell players of the talent of Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan.

Liverpool have been linked to Enrique since the 2010-11 campaign came to a close, although interest appeared to cool when their initial advances failed to progress. However, widespread reports on Wednesday claimed the Reds were set to make a forceful approach for the defender, who will overlook the lack of Champions League football in order to join the Anfield club.

Reports had suggested the Reds were hours away from signing Enrique, something Pardew dispelled, but he did hint that the Magpies were expecting movement in the coming days.

"Enrique is still here and will play on Saturday [against Fiorentina]," Pardew said. "I don't see an issue that he won't start."

Commenting on the Liverpool speculation, Pardew added: "I know there's interest in Jose, but no concrete interest. We are poised to react to that [when it arrives]."

Meanwhile, the Newcastle boss scoffed at the claims of Bayer Leverkusen winger Tranquillo Barnetta's agent, Barry McIntosh, who claimed his player would never consider accepting a £40,000-per-week salary at St James' Park. McIntosh did, however, intimate that his client would be more tempted if the offer came from a club nearer the top of the league.

"In terms of those comments [from McIntosh] I'm not even going to go there," said Pardew. "To say £40,000 is a derisory offer - that's ridiculous."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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