Arsenal target Spanish Magpie Jose Enrique

Arsenal are believed to be on the brink of signing full-back Jose Enrique from Newcastle United. Magpies manager Alan Pardew has dropped the biggest hint yet that the 25-year-old Spaniard will be saying 'adios' to St James Park this summer, telling reporters: "He's made it pretty clear that he still won't sign a contract and that his future may be elsewhere. I'm not really comfortable with that, but we will have to deal with it."

Though Liverpool have been linked with Enrique in the past, it's the Gunners who now have the strongest claim on the strapping Spanish stopper. The exit last week of Gael Clichy to Manchester City has only increased speculation that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is mulling things over in Malaysia where the Gunners are currently entertaining the locals on a pre-season jolly.

Enrique joined Newcastle from Villarreal in 2007 and is believed to be eager to showcase his talents in European competition in a bid to break into the national side.

Meanwhile the Metro says that Arsenal are "set to boot out Denilson" after the bolshy Brazilian threw a wobbly during a friendly game in Malaysia.  The 23-year-old midfielder came on at half-time during Arsenal's 4-0 romp over a Malaysian XI, but was then brought off midway through the second half.

The Metro claims Denilson stormed off down the tunnel in fury at Wenger's decision and is unlikely to be seen again in Arsenal colours.

Samir Nasri, on the other hand, impressed during a cameo appearance off the bench and gave no indication he had anything other than unadulterated love for the Arsenal.

Still with stroppy players, Nicolas Anelka's agent has dismissed the idea that his client might be eyeing up a move Stateside, following in the footsteps of Thierry Henry to the MLS.

In an interview with France Football magazine, Michael Wiesenfeld said the 32-year-old Anelka was still very much a Chelsea man. "No MLS club has expressed an interest in him," said Wiesenfeld, adding that no American outfit could afford him.

Elsewhere, the Sun says that England winger Stewart Downing will become a Liverpool player by the end of the week after Aston Villa agreed to sell him for £20m. The Midlands club had rejected the Reds' first two offers of £12m and £15m but relented when the offer rose to £20m.

"We have reached an agreement with Liverpool after an improved offer and Stewart's formal transfer request," says Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner.

Talksport carries a report saying Tottenham defender Michael Dawson has no intention of quitting Tottenham because of a dispute over his pay packet. Rumours surfaced earlier in the week that the England international believed he was worth more than he was being paid, but that's just not true, says Dawson.

"I still have four years left on my current contract and no issues regarding it whatsoever, he told Talksport. The 27-year-old Dawson, who arrived at the Lane from Nottingham Forest in 2005, added: "I have no idea where this story has come from - it certainly has not come from myself or any of my representatives. I think I have always demonstrated that I am a proud player and captain of this club and nothing has changed in that respect."

But that's not the case as far as one of Dawson's Tottenham team-mates is concerned. The Daily Mail is one of several papers to report that midfielder Luka Modric handed the club a written transfer request on Wednesday night in a final attempt to join Chelsea.

The Croatian star has made no secret of the fact he wants to join the Blues but Spurs boss Harry Redknapp and chairman Daniel Levy have so far ignored his pleas. The Mail says, however, that Chelsea are now likely to up their offer of £22m to £30m and that will finally convince Tottenham to do business. ·