Transfer wrap: Liverpool close in on Enrique, Pato sticks with AC

Liverpool are on the verge of signing full-back Jose Enrique from Newcastle United after the clubs reportedly agreed to a fee on Wednesday.

The English Premier League sides are trying to finalise the

details of a deal worth around 8 million pounds.

Once a deal is struck, Enrique will be given permission to

discuss personal terms with Liverpool and undergo a medical.

The Anfield club hope

to complete the transfer by the end of the week in preparation for their

Premier League opener against Sunderland at home on August 13.

The Spaniard’s contract at Newcastle expires in mid-2012 and

last week he was fined two weeks’ wages for a Twitter rant directed towards

owner Mike Ashley.

“The club is allowing all the major players of the team

to go. Seriously, do you think it is the fault of the players?” Enrique

tweeted on July 24.

“Andy (Carroll), Nobby (Kevin Nolan) etc etc. This club

will never again fight to be among the top six again with this policy.”

His departure will add to the discontent among Newcastle

fans following the announcement on Monday that midfielder Joey Barton would be

allowed to leave the club on a free transfer.

In the Serie A, Brazil international Alexandre Pato has

affirmed his commitment to champions AC Milan, despite being linked with a move

to Chelsea.

The forward said he intended to see out his contract, which

runs until 2014.

“I have a contract with Milan until the summer of 2014

and I want to respect that. I want to stay at least until then,” Pato said.

“We’ll have to wait and see what happens from there on.”

The 21-year-old attacker joined Milan from Internacional in

the 2007 and has made more than 100 appearances for the Italian powerhouse

since making his debut against Napoli in January 2008.

Also in Italy, Juventus are considering a potential move for

Fiorentina winger Juan Vargas and could give up Amauri and Jorge Martinez to

bring the Peru international to Turin.

Antonio Conte’s side have long been after a new left winger

and have been linked with players such as Lyon’s Michel Bastos, Real Madrid’s

Royston Drenthe and Sevilla’s Diego Perotti in the past few weeks, but they now

appear to have turned their attention to Vargas again.

The Fiorentina man has a contract with his current club

until the summer of 2013 and the Serie A outfit are keen to hold on to the

27-year-old.

Juventus have yet to table an official offer for Vargas, but

could make a formal approach for the wide-man in the coming days.