Lescott battles for the ball with Landon Donovan
during Everton's friendly match against the MSL All Stars last
week
Everton defender Joleon Lescott
is this afternoon expected to hand in a transfer request in a bid
to prompt a £20m move to
Manchester City.
City have had two bids - the latest for £19m - turned down by
the Merseyside club with Everton telling them that the young
England international is not for sale. But Sportsmail
understands that Lescott was this morning in the process of
formally writing to Everton chairman Bill Kenwright to make it
clear that he wants to leave, even if it means waiving his rights
to a pay-off.
Having had their fingers burned by their failure to land John
Terry from Chelsea, City will not increase their offer to Everton
until there is a formal and clear indication from Lescott that he
is ready to walk away.
City remain optimistic that they will manage to sign Lescott and
they are happy to go above the £20m mark to do so. But the Premier
League's richest club have identified Newcastle's Sebastien Bassong
and Portsmouth's Sylvin Distin as fall-back options if they can not
do the deal before the start of the season.
If Lescott does not come than City manager Mark Hughes has been
given the go-ahead to sign Bassong and former Eastlands
captain Distin.
This, in turn, would pave the way for last season's captain
Richard Dunne to leave the club. City have not identified a captain
for the new season but summer signing from Aston Villa Gareth Barry
is currently favourite.
