It is being reported this morning that the Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas made a last-ditch attempt to take Newcastle’s Jose Enrique to Stamford Bridge, but the Toon defender opted to move to Anfield instead.
The Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has been linked with Enrique since Xmas, but Alan Pardew kept hoping he could persuade the Spanish left-back to remain at St. James Park.
But this week’s criticism of Newcastle sealed Enrique’s departure and the Mail reports that Liverpool have agreed a transfer fee of £10m with Newcastle, despite Chelsea’s late interest, and Dalglish hopes to complete the signing over the weekend.
Enrique joins Joey Barton in in forcing a move a move away from Newcastle by publicly reviling the clubs ambition on Twitter, which is becoming an increasingly easy way for footballers to let their feelings be widely known. The Mail also reports that Newcastle are considering a blanket ban of Toon players using Twitter in future.
LAST NEWCASTLE FIXTURE:
GATESHEAD 1 NUFC XI 3
Gateshead International Stadium
NEWCASTLE UTD XI (4-5-1): Harper; Richardson, Williamson (Moyo 62), Tavernier, Dummett; R Taylor (Donaldson 78), Smith (Edmundsson 78), Abeid, Vuckic (Airey 88), Ameobi; Ranger. Subs (not used): Soderberg, Inman, Airey, McDermott, Nzuzi
Alan Pardew watched the fixture but he went running as the media tried to get a few words on the Joey Barton saga. Instead he left John Carver to face the press.
It's a case of "passing the buck", as we know for a fact Derek Llambias and Mike Ashley won't be putting us in the picture.
Newcastle's number two swerved questions about outspoken fans' favourite Barton to keep supporters in the dark over the club's reasons for transfer-listing the midfielder.
On the pitch, Kyle Nix put the hosts ahead in the tenth minute, sending Steve Harper the wrong way from the penalty spot after the lively Yemi Odubade was brought down by a combination of defenders James Tavernier and Michael Richardson.
In front of 2,108 at the International Stadium, promising right-back Richardson made amends four minutes later, sending over an inviting cross for Sammy Ameobi to deservedly head Newcastle level with the first of the forward's two goals.
Pardew, who sat rooted to the bench for the entire 90 minutes, saw his side take the lead seven minutes before the interval when Gateshead defender James Curtis diverted Ameobi's low cross into his own net at the near post.
Newcastle weren't without fortune, as Gateshead struck the woodwork three times in the first-half through Nathan Fisher, and Odubade, who was unlucky on two occasions.
Ameobi grabbed his second just before the hour, stabbing home from close range as Gateshead failed to clear Ryan Taylor's corner.
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