Everton FC News: Everton hoping Joleon Lescott turns his back on big-money move to Manchester City

Jul 3 2009 by David Prentice, Liverpool Daily Post

EVERTON are hoping Joleon Lescott will turn his back on the chance to join big spending Manchester City this summer.

City have made it clear they are unwilling to offer more than £15million for the England defender.

And with Everton refusing to entertain any fee short of £20million they are hoping Lescott will stay at Goodison.

Mark Hughes’s side are now aiming to push the player into asking for a transfer, with a salary offer in the region of £80,000 a week – double Lescott’s present Everton deal.

City were encouraged when Lescott offered a non-committal response to questions about his future when asked after England’s recent World Cup qualifier against Andorra.

But Everton are hopeful that the likelihood of an extended run in his favoured central defensive position – with Phil Jagielka missing until November and Leighton Baines outstanding for the second half of last season at left-back – will see him stay put.

Lescott made 14 appearances at full-back during 2008/09, a position in which he is equally accomplished as centre-back, but from Boxing Day onwards played all bar two matches in his favoured berth.

The only matches he missed were when he was rested for the visit of West Brom, a decision which ended an incredible run of 129 consecutive appearances, and the visit of Manchester City to Goodison.

Everton believe that Glen Johnson’s £17m transfer to neighbours Liverpool is a marker for their £20m valuation of their six-cap England international.

David Moyes does not want Lescott to leave, and negotiations for the year-long loan of striker Jo from Manchester City have been conducted without Lescott’s name being involved.

The fear is that City’s ability to offer a staggering pay rise may be too much for Lescott to ignore.