Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has admitted that defender Jose Enrique is keen to quit the club and move to one that will offer him Champions League football.
Enrique has been one of the club's best players over past seasons and Liverpool and Arsenal are believed to be in the market for a left-back of his class. Newcastle has made him a lucrative new contract offer, but having rejected it, Pardew concedes that the Spanish star may have to move on.
However, Pardew's admission that Enrique is holding out for Champions League football would suggest Kenny Dalglish will miss out on his second left-back target, after Gael Clichy moved to Manchester City.
"The noises coming out of Jose's camp are that he wants to get a new club playing Champions League football," Pardew said.
"Unfortunately we can't offer him that but that seems to be his focus. Hopefully that will change but we've offered him a massive contract which he does not want to sign, so it's a difficult position.
"There have been no concrete offers. But if he goes, it is going to leave a big hole in the team. It would need filling quickly."
However, Enrique is in the Toon squad which flies out to the United States for a three-match tour after Friday's friendly at Darlington.
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