Jose Enrique
Middlesbrough's Sanli challenges Newcastle United's Enrique during their English Premier League match in Middlesbrough. REUTERS Reuters

Liverpool will tie up the £8m transfer of left-back Jose Enrique in the next 48 hours after Newcastle United conceded defeat in their attempts to retain the Spaniard, reports suggest.

Enrique, 25, has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield all summer, after he refused to sign a new contract at St. James' Park.

Reports today suggest Liverpool have agreed an £8m deal to sign the full-back and are confident of finalising personal terms with the Spaniard before the end of the week.

The transfer will see Newcastle receive an initial £6m, rising to £8m in performance related add-ons.

Enrique will join new signings Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing as Liverpool's summer spending passes £50m, but manager Kenny Dalglish is keen to trim the squad's wage bill by offloading unwanted players ahead of the new season.

Milan Jovanovic looks set to be the first player heading for the Anfield exit, after Anderlecht agreed a deal to sign the out-of-favour forward.

Jovanovic, 30, joined the club last summer on a free transfer but struggled to break into the first team after Dalglish's arrival and will head back to Belgium subject to passing a medical.

A club statement read: "RSC Anderlecht and Liverpool FC reached today, Tuesday, August 2, 2011, an agreement on the transfer of Liverpool striker Milan Jovanovic."

Meanwhile, Alberto Aquilani's looks set to return to Italy with AC Milan and Fiorentina both interested in signing the £9m-rated midfielder.

The Italian international only made 18 appearances for the club after his £20m transfer from Roma in 2009 and spent last season on loan at Juventus. Fiorentina coach Sinisa Mihajlovic is confident of securing the 27-year-old midfielder.

"Aquilani deal up in smoke? From now until the end of the market there is still plenty of time, let's not lose hope," he told La Republica.

"The club, myself, and director of sport Pantaleo Corvino have clear ideas and we know exactly what to do."

Liverpool are confident of recouping most of the fee they spent on bringing the Italian to Anfield but the player's agent, Franco Zavaglia, believes the club could settle for as little as £8.7m.

"When you speak of such a negotiation, there is always an element of truth," he told ilsussidiario.net.

"[Adriano] Galliani [AC Milan vice-president] is now in China for the Italian Super Cup, but I expect to talk to him when he comes back to Milan.

"I think an agreement could be reached for a figure around €10m (£8.7m).

"Aquilani is still tied to a three-year contract with Liverpool and before his eventual departure we will talk with the leadership of Liverpool.

"It seems clear to me that the player doesn't fall into the technical plans of the coach, so the suggestion of his departure is concrete."

Finally, reports in the Sun suggest Sam Allardyce wants to take French striker David Ngog to West Ham. The Championship side are interested in signing the 22-year-old but have warned Liverpool they will need to lower their £5.5m valuation of the player.