Liverpool's pursuit of Jose Enrique boosted

Liverpool's chances of signing Newcastle United star Jose Enrique have been boosted after Alan Pardew made it known he would be interested in signing Paul Konchesky as a replacement for the Spaniard, Goal.com can reveal.

Enrique is Liverpool's first choice to solve the club's problem left-back position in the summer and Newcastle's interest in Reds defender Konchesky raises the possibility of a player-plus-cash deal.

The two clubs are yet to open negotiations but Newcastle are privately resigned to losing the £8 million-rated man, who has just one year left on his contract and is also attracting interest from Arsenal and European giants AC Milan and Bayern Munich.

Reds manager Kenny Dalglish has also been keeping tabs on Arsenal full-back Gael Clichy and Everton's Leighton Baines, but Enrique has always been his top target following his consistent displays throughout this season. Meanwhile, Manchester City and Real Madrid are also interested in the Gunners stopper, as revealed by Goal.com.

Enrique, 25, has said he will be "happy" to leave Newcastle this summer and is ready to push on following a successful four years at the club following his £6.3m move from Villarreal.

Pardew, the Newcastle boss, is preparing for next season without Enrique and has identified Konchesky as a player who could fill the role.

The pair worked together at West Ham and Pardew still believes the 29-year-old can be a solid Premier League performer despite a nightmare spell at Anfield following his ￡4m switch from Fulham last summer.

The former England international joined Nottingham Forest on loan in January and returned to Liverpool this week for the club's final three games of the season. Fulham are also interested in re-signing Konchesky but a return to Craven Cottage is far from certain.

Source: Goal.com

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