Pardew retains Jose hope

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew insists he remains hopeful contract rebel Jose Enrique will stay with the club.

The Spanish full-back has just one year left on his current deal at St James' Park and is refusing to pen a new deal.

Pardew, though, insists the Liverpool target could yet remain with the club rather than departing before the end of the transfer window.

"I keep looking at him and smiling, hoping he is going to stay," Pardew said after their last pre-season friendly against Fiorentina was abandoned because of water logging.

"He smiles but hasn't signed a contract yet.

"He was terrific against a very good player [against Fiorentina] and showed why I want to keep him."

Meanwhile, Pardew is understood to have flown to Holland at the weekend to run the rule over PSV Eindhoven full-back Erik Pieters - who is a contender to replace Enrique, should he leave in the coming weeks.

Source: Sky Sports

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