It seems that Newcastle have another injury casualty in America, as Jose Enrique has picked up another hamstring injury.
Jose Enrique – in training at Kansas earlier this week
That explains why Argentine Jonas Gutierrez played the first half at left back last night against Sporting Kansas, until young James Tavernier came on in the second half at left-back, and Jonas was able to move up in his more accustomed left wing position.
But lots of fans may think Jose is being saved for a transfer to Liverpool, as news in England is that Liverpool are putting together a £10M (or more) bid for the left-back – that sounds good.
And that would be a very good price for Newcastle, although Liverpool can’t offer the Spaniard Champions League football next season, which is what Jose says he wants.
Getting a good price for Enrique would be good, because Newcastle could lose Jose for nothing next summer, when his five year contract on Tyneside runs out.
The news that was reported yesterday was that Liverpool tried to get Arsenal left-back Gail Clichy, who finally signed for Manchester City.
And the Merseyside club have now switched their attentions back to Enrique, and want to sign him for as much as £11.5M, depending on which report you believe.
£11.5M sounds about £1.5M better than £10M to Newcastle, and the club should try to get as much as they possibly can for one of their best players, who nevertheless wants to leave Newcastle, after four good years on Tyneside.
This is what Newcastle manager Alan Pardew said last night:
“Jose got a knock in training yesterday.” “There is nothing suspicious about that.”
“He has a hamstring knock – he’s suffered with his hamstring before.”
The Evening Chronicle is reporting that Newcastle may put in an improved bid for Swansea left-back Neil Taylor, and that would be a big surprise, given that Newcastle tried to get him for £1M through a supposed release clause in his contract.
But in retrospect it seems that Swansea were in the right on the contract after all, and having signed the 22 year-old to a four year deal, the Welsh club can now expect a decent bid coming from Newcastle.
But again, we’d be very surprised if Newcastle go back in for this player, and if they do, then Neil must be highly regarded by the Newcastle scouting staff.
Enrique is keeping a low profile in the US, but it’s clear he wants out at Newcastle and there’s nothing wrong with guarding against an injury that would scuttle a move to Liverpool.
But if Alan says that’s not the case, that’s fine, but if it’s a slight injury that keeps him from playing and making it worse, that is also convenient if Newcastle plan to sell him to Liverpool.
As we’ve said many times before, if the player doesn’t want to stay on Tyneside, then don’t try to keep him, but also try to get just as much as the club can for the top left-back.
But whether that transfer money will be re-invested in the squad, we doubt it, but we think a top left back could be brought in for about half of Jose’s transfer fee, and that would be decent business for Newcastle.
But then maybe Neil Taylor will be the only one brought in, and he can fight it out with young Shane Ferguson next season for the left back spot.
But if Liverpool are truly interested we would expect a deal to be struck soon.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
25 comments so far
kevymartins
Jul 21, 2011 at 1:13 PM
Comment #1http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_7052009,00.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
kevymartins
Jul 21, 2011 at 1:15 PM
Comment #2I duno i just have a gut feeling mehdi abeid is gona be a big player for us….
eaststandgeordie1982
Jul 21, 2011 at 1:20 PM
Comment #3I think he will aswell but how can anybody play a big part if you think we will get relegated
Andy
Jul 21, 2011 at 1:21 PM
Comment #4Anyone fancy joining? Get a nufcblog league going
Andy
Jul 21, 2011 at 1:22 PM
Comment #5fantasy.premierleague.com **
eaststandgeordie1982
Jul 21, 2011 at 1:22 PM
Comment #6What do we have to do andy??
alex84
Jul 21, 2011 at 1:23 PM
Comment #7Kevy – me 2 mate last two games he’s been very good supposedly.
belfastmagpie87
Jul 21, 2011 at 1:24 PM
Comment #8injured.??
more like ashley is sh!tting his pants incase he gets injured. 😉
Andy
Jul 21, 2011 at 1:25 PM
Comment #9Just sign up and make a team. I’ll set the league up now.
2 AMEOBI'S
Jul 21, 2011 at 1:26 PM
Comment #10Andy
count me in, usually do 1 in the sun anyways
Andy
Jul 21, 2011 at 1:29 PM
Comment #1126808-13480 << That is the league code. Once you're finished your team type that into the join league box
eaststandgeordie1982
Jul 21, 2011 at 1:32 PM
Comment #12We gona use our blog names??
Andy
Jul 21, 2011 at 1:34 PM
Comment #13Ah i hadn’t thought of that. I went for the flying penguins! 🙂
eaststandgeordie1982
Jul 21, 2011 at 1:37 PM
Comment #14It would be easier lol
eaststandgeordie1982
Jul 21, 2011 at 1:38 PM
Comment #15Espn classic shearer legends of the game is on now
samigee14
Jul 21, 2011 at 1:53 PM
Comment #16shane ferguson is not a left back. he is a left mid. he is not powerfull enough to play left back. he is to light weight and he would be wasted at left back because defensivley he is weak and he has pace to burn further up the pitch.
i Toon
Jul 21, 2011 at 1:56 PM
Comment #17i will join the league next month
OttersPocket
Jul 21, 2011 at 2:14 PM
Comment #18Wont let me join, nothing happening when enter code
OttersPocket
Jul 21, 2011 at 2:18 PM
Comment #19Im In
joppadoni
Jul 21, 2011 at 2:25 PM
Comment #20joined too
Hebburn Mag
Jul 21, 2011 at 2:27 PM
Comment #21Anyone wanna share their fantasy premierleague teams ?
timuJ
Jul 21, 2011 at 2:47 PM
Comment #22I’m in – theRISKalwaysLIVES
OttersPocket
Jul 21, 2011 at 4:12 PM
Comment #23Hebburn Mag //
I have changed mine about 5 times already
max
Jul 21, 2011 at 5:50 PM
Comment #24if arsenal want to sign enrique then they need to give us cash + kieran gibbs or armand traore…
if liverpool want to sign enrique then they need to give us cash + insua
Hebburn Mag
Jul 21, 2011 at 8:25 PM
Comment #25My team:
Hart
Coloccini S.Taylor Kompany Vidic
Ben Arfa Bale Modric
Rooney Wickham Suarez (c)
Subs:
Given
Bardsley
Mc Arthur
Spearing
Not a bad team tbh