JONAS GUTIERREZ believes sought after team-mate Jose Enrique has all the credentials to become one of the best left-backs in the world.

Liverpool and Tottenham are among a growing number of clubs considering a summer move for the £15m-rated Spanish defender, while the Magpies hoping to agree a new long-term contract.

Gutierrez has struck up a fantastic understanding with Enrique down the flank in the last couple of years, which has helped alert top clubs about his talent.

Having successfully forged such a link-up on and off the pitch with the former Villarreal full-back, Gutierrez feels there are few better around than Newcastle’s No 3.

“I believe Jose is one of the best left-backs in the Premier League, right up there with Ashley Cole, Patrice Evra and Gael Clichy,” said Gutierrez. “Jose is only young so he is going to get even stronger.

“It is a very special relationship between Jose and me. We have an amazing understanding, almost telepathic. Having Jose playing the way he does is brilliant for me, we know what each other is thinking.”

Enrique looked set for international recognition when he signed for Newcastle after Sam Allardyce paid £6.5m to Villarreal in August 2007.

But a difficult first two years ended in relegation and he struggled to show the sort of ability that persuaded Allardyce to pay such a fee.

The Championship promotion season helped him to settle and now his performances on his return to the top-flight have alerted other top clubs.

“As long as he keeps thinking he has to learn more and more there is every chance he will be in the Spanish national team very soon,” said Gutierrez. “He has all the qualities to be there, he just needs to fine tune his game.

“Jose Capdevila is quite a bit older so they will need to be someone coming in to play for Spain to fill his boots. Jose Enrique is quick, clever, he has all the qualities to do it.

“He is one of the best left-backs I have played with but I have been lucky because I have played with left-backs like Fernando Navarro, who also plays for Spain, and Gabriel Heinze for Argentina. They are all different types but are all very good. I am very lucky because I always play with good left-backs.”

Gutierrez has also benefited from being given the time to shine after a disappointing first year on Tyneside.

With that in mind, he sympathises with fellow Argentine Marcos Angeleri, who has returned to his home country after failing to make an impression at Sunderland.

If initial interest from Estudiantes is followed up, Angeleri could leave Wearside 12 months after arriving and Gutierrez believes English football has not seen the best of him.

“I cannot understand why he has not played for Sunderland,” said Gutierrez. “He is strong, quick, a very good player. It is strange.

“The manager (Steve Bruce) took him in. It has been hard for Marcos. But it is always hard for South Americans to come to England and play well in their first season.

“It is a completely different lifestyle, a different culture and a completely different way of playing football.

“But it is the manager who makes the decisions to bring players over here. Marcos is a great player and I believe he has a good future.”