Pardew plays Enrique waiting game

Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew has admitted the club is facing an uphill battle to keep defender Jose Enrique.

Contract talks with the fullback have stalled, as Arsenal, Liverpool and Bayern Munich all reportedly pursue their interest in the 25-year-old Spaniard.

Pardew said on Monday the likelihood of keeping Enrique at St James’ Park were thinning.

“At the moment it looks like he doesn’t want to deal with us,” Padrew told The Evening Chronicle.

“We have been asked to make him an offer but there has been no progress since then. I still hope we can do something but at the moment we’re still waiting for Jose.”

“I don’t think there’s anything more I can really add on that situation at this stage.”

Swansea City left-back Neil Taylor is expected to complete a move to Newcastle in the next 10 days, but the club says he is not a direct replacement for Enrique.

Pardew is also looking for two strikers, and is believed to be following up earlier interest in West Ham United’s Demba Ba.

He said the club was making progress in the transfer market and expected to announce a signing soon.

“Things are definitely moving on now and we expect to be busier between now and the start of the season. We’re working very hard on one or two players and we hope to announce something soon,” Pardew said.

“We should be able to announce a second signing, I would think, in the next 10 days.”

The club missed out on striker Kevin Gameiro after he signed for Paris Saint German on Sunday.