According to the Daily Mail, Newcastle are now resigned to losing the services of their first-choice left-back during the summer.
With Jose Enrique looking certain to leave St James’ Park this summer, Alan Pardew’s side have been linked to Toulouse’s Franck Tabanou. The French under-21 international is predominantly a winger, but has excelled in the left-back position this season when he has been forced to fill in for missing team-mates.
Liverpool were thought to be the favourites to acquire Enrique’s services, but if we are to believe the Mail, Arsenal are also said to be very keen on acquiring the Spaniard’s services.
Arsenal are concerned that their current left-back, Gael Clichy, will not sign a new contract and may seek a move away from the Emirates in the summer. Given that Clichy’s had an underwhelming season at best and hasn’t been playing his best football for quite some time now, it makes sense that Arsenal are putting the feelers out for a potential replacement. I doubt, however, that they will have Jose Enrique listed as their number one target.
Liverpool’s left-back problems this season have been well documented. As a result, they’ve been linked to just about every left-back under the sun. Back at the beginning of April, Liverpool Legend Phil “Thommo” Thompson even suggested that the Jose Enrique’s move to Anfield was a ‘done deal’. Of course, we don’t know what Thommo’s sources were/are, but given his close links to the club, I’d argue that it’s very likely there’s some truth to his claims.
I’d certainly be more inclined to believe that he knows more about Enrique’s possible move to Liverpool than the likes of the Daily Mail, who have cooked up a story without providing any sources, quotes or hard evidence that anything they’ve printed is true.
Jose Enrique is an excellent left-back, one of the Premier League’s best and he’s certainly a better ‘defender’ than Gael Clichy. But I’d argue Clichy offers the Gunners more firepower going forward – something that’s infinitely more appealing to Arsene Wenger than defensive stability. Let’s not forget that Clichy has also made it public that he hopes to remain an Arsenal player in the future.
Whilst I’m sure that Enrique is on his way out at Newcastle, I’m equally sure that he won’t end up at Arsenal. If Liverpool can get a fair price for the Spaniard, he’d represent a very good acquisition.
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Written by Harry Cloke
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