Mapgies boss Pardew snubs Liverpool link
Former Liverpool number two Phil Thompson's revelation that a deal is already in place to bring Newcastle defender Jose Enrique to Anfield for £15 million at the end of the season is incorrect, according to their manager Alan Pardew.
The Sky Sports pundit had spoken with authority last week about a possible transfer that had been speculated over for quite a while in the media, however the Magpies boss has denied the rumour and suggested that the left back will be offered a chance to extend his stay on Tyneside this summer.
He said: "There's definitely no deal between the clubs - 100 per cent. He's under contract here until next summer and we hope to open talks on a new deal as soon as possible. That's where we are.
"We want to keep our best players, and Jose's one of them. As far as anything being a done deal, that's not true. We want Jose to stay. Nothing's changed."
A glance at the comments beneath the Evening Chronicle story carrying the quotes shows that the Toon Army aren't convinced by their manager's claims as a consequence of events in January when Andy Carroll was sold to the Merseyside giants in January despite assurances that he wouldn't leave.
The £15 million figure appears rather hefty though given Pardew's confirmation that the 25-year-old Spanish international has little over a year to run on his contract, but were the move to go through, it would mean Newcastle making a staggering £50 million off the Reds over the course of the year.
Pardew's side are currently in ninth place, but the five teams below them are all within two points, which is why odds of [2.7] are offered on them finishing in the top half. Liverpool meanwhile can be backed at [4.1] to overtake Tottenham. Click here to open a new account with a free bet on either.
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Published: 13 Apr 2011
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