It seems quite amazing to think that only two years ago Spanish international defender José Enrique was about to begin a new season in the second tier of English football with Newcastle United. This week it seems likely that the 25-year-old is set to leave St James’ Park with a whole host of clubs chasing the highly-rated left-back.
Enrique who has one year left on his contract has made 119 appearances for the Magpies in his four years there. He has recently stated that he is ‘happy’ to leave Newcastle this summer and looks ready to progress his career with talks breaking down over a new contract.
Kenny Dalglish is a fan of the £8m rated defender and after another of his targets Gael Clichy joined Manchester City, is it thought that he has moved to the top of his transfer list in order to solve the problem left-back position at Anfield.
However Liverpool could face stiff competition from Arsenal who are seeking to replace Clichy. Arsene Wenger is known to admire the left-back and has the advantage of providing him with European football this season, something Liverpool cannot do.
‘EL Toro’ (The Bull) was always known for his searing pace and was even a member of a local running club in his teens. He decided against perusing a career in athletics instead signing for home-town club Levante, making his professional debut at the age of 18 in 2004. He did enough in just 19 games to earn a dream move to Valencia, his boyhood team, in the summer of 2005. But as soon as he had arrived he was back out again, this time on a season long loan at Celta Vigo where he impressed with some eye-catching performances, helping the side to a 6th place finish in the Priméra Liga.
He left Valencia that summer, only a year after joining them and without actually playing a game for the club, joining Villarreal. As part of ‘The Yellow Submarine’ he played at St James’ Park in a friendly at the start of the 2006 season. His performance must have impressed the watching Geordies as exactly a year to the day he was back in the North East to finalise a £6.3m switch from Villarreal.
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I think Enrique would be a better signing than Downing – the urgency for a left back is far greater than it is for a left winger especially if he can get forward and get crosses in for his ex team mate. We already have enough players to flood the midfield and wingers tend to weaken the defensive side of the middle four.
Enrique + Mata on the left for some Spanish flair!!!!!
Certainly better than Downing (who isn’t?) but has stated he wants Champions League football. Good going forward, but still takes too many chances at the back.
NOW i would prefer – Mata – RW , Michel Bastos LW and a forward to replace NGOG :S –
SELL- Joe cole,poulsen,jovanovic,Maxi.
and thats it close the transfer market and start training!
go for kolarov and marcelo, they have all the attributes to be our best left back and of course their position are in danger after the arrival of clichy and coentrao in their clubs