Newcastle want Spearing swap for Enrique

Newcastle will test just how much Liverpool want left-back Jose Enrique by insisting that promising young Reds midfielder Jay Spearing moves the other way.

PEOPLE SPORT revealed on April 3 that Kop boss Kenny Dalglish was keen to hijack Enrique's planned move to AC Milan, who remain favourites to take the speedy Spain defender to Serie A.

Liverpool have not been put off - but they might be if Newcastle insist on Wirral-born Spearing, 22, as part of any deal.

He has come on in leaps and bounds under Dalglish in the absence of injured skipper Steven Gerrard.

Toon manager Alan Pardew insists that, despite reports coming out of Merseyside, no deal has been struck with Liverpool for Enrique, 25, whose contract at St James' Park has one more season to run.

But he is resigned to losing the Spaniard. Newcasle chief scout Graham Carr took in two matches in France last weekend - one involving Toulouse and their France Under-21 star Cheikh M'Bengue.

Sources say Toulouse have already rejected a £5m bid from Newcastle for the 22-year-old left-back.

Source: The People

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