Pardew hopeful over Enrique

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has refused to give up hope of persuading full-back Jose Enrique to remain on Tyneside.

The 25-year-old is entering the final year of his current deal but hasn't responded to the club's contract offer.

Pardew told BBC Newcastle: "I'm still hopeful that Enrique - who was a big player for us last year - stays and we can entice him to stay, and obviously we are still working on that.

"We're not confident we can keep him, but we're not scared of losing him."

Arsenal were the latest club to be linked with the defender over the weekend, with Liverpool having previously been touted as a destination for a player who was one of the Magpies' most consistent players in the 2010-2011 season.

Having lost skipper Kevin Nolan to West Ham after he failed to agree a new deal, and with Joey Barton's future uncertain with no fresh offer on the table, Pardew is keen to hang on to the Spaniard.

"When you have only got a year left on a player of his ability, of course you are vulnerable, and I think it's nervous times for us on him," Pardew added.

Source: BBC Sport