Premier League - City reach Lescott stalemate

Eurosport - Sat, 22 Aug 09:53:00 2009

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has admitted his bid to bring Joleon Lescott to Eastlands has reached an impasse, but is yet to give up entirely on the Everton defender.

FOOTBALL 2009-10 Premier League Everton defender Joleon Lescott - 0

City have relentlessly pursued the 27-year-old in one of this summer's longest-running transfer sagas, despite Everton's insistence he would not be sold.

The Toffees have rejected two bids from City - of £15 million and £18m - for the England international, who had a formal transfer request rejected earlier this month.

But a deal may yet be struck, with Everton reportedly willing to consider sanctioning an exit if their £30m valuation of the player is met.

"I think we have discussed this at length for probably the past three weeks and it's just going over old ground," said Hughes.

"I've said time and time again that we've made bids for Joleon Lescott and they've been rejected by Everton, who are very much within their rights to do that.

"I respect that decision, that's the top and bottom of that.

"There hasn't been any update since we came back from Barcelona, so that's where we are. There hasn't been any opportunity to progress it because people have been busy.

"I've said time and time again it comes to a point where sometimes you think it's not going to happen and you walk away from situations, and that's what we've done (with targets in the past)."

But Hughes added: "We are not at that point at this moment. When we feel there is nowhere else to go and it is not going to happen, then we will walk away.

"We do not think we are quite at that point as yet. Only time will tell."

Lescott's time on Merseyside was thought to be coming to an end after he was left out of the squad to face Sigma Olomouc for Thursday's Europa League clash.

But David Moyes insisted Lescott's omission for that game - which Everton won 4-0 - was purely a response to the player's attitude in training following the weekend's 6-1 drubbing by Arsenal, and not because his Everton career was over.

Nevertheless, Everton are reportedly considering making bids for either Newcastle's Steven Taylor and Portsmouth's Sylvain Distin as speculation continues to link the Toffees with possible replacements for Lescott.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

Comment 169 - 188 of 188

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  1. The feeble minded are at it again, what is wrong with­ some of you people, it doesnt matter who thinks which­ club is bigger, the point is by all means support your­ club and believe in it, that is why you atre a fan but­ dont look through rose coloured glasses. Before you­ open your mouth check the records, they unlike some of­ you out there, dont lie

    From John W, on Sat 22 Aug 12:08PM

  2. Moyes is makin mistake by holdin lescott.he wil neva­ play with his mind for everton.pls moyes allow him go u­ too like money.remember gallas jose case @ chelsea.

    From IHUOMA, on Sat 22 Aug 10:18AM

  3. I was watching the Sir Alex interview on Sky Sports­ News .. and wow .. he looked like hes lost it or drunk­ .. somethings wrong ... I believe in SAF and Man Utd­ but I am a little worried this season ... hope we do­ well !

    From Michael Cassette, on Sat 22 Aug 10:11AM

  4. Stewart: It goes like this -

    Everton honours:
    League­ titles - 9
    FA Cups - 5
    Euro cup winners cup - 1

    Man­ City honours:
    League titles - 2
    FA cups - 4
    Euro cup­ winners cup - 1

    The last time you won anything was the­ league cup in 1976. So, in response to your­ 'Everton's a mickey mouse club' comment, in­ the words of shakespeare during one of his infamous­ outbursts, F*CK OFF!!!!!!!!.

    From Oliver, on Sat 22 Aug 10:02AM

  5. Stewart, it is people like you that give city fans a­ bad name! If you want the answer to your question.­ Check the History of the two clubs. In both recent and­ distant past everton are by far superior! You lot are­ like chav's that win the lottery suddenyly thinking­ you're high society! P.s. This is only to the small­ percentage of fans that give you a bad name!

    From d.papas, on Sat 22 Aug 9:41AM

  6. Why is it that supporters of a MICKEY MOUSE club like­ Everton have the deluded belief that they are bigger­ than the MIGHTY MAN CITY! Everton are as big as a flea­ on an elephants back.

    From Stewart, on Sat 22 Aug 9:31AM

  7. Moyes apparently wants Lescott to stay yet he'd­ @#$% City's hands off if a 30m offer was put on the­ table (which i doubt will ever happen) this whole saga­ once again stinks of pure greed,many people have­ accussed City of trying to buy success but maybe they­ should take a look on the other side of the coin, City­ put in sensible bids but some of these clubs are asking­ way over the odds for mediocre players, the City owners­ may have a pots of money but even Hughes who's­ spending it won't be held to ransom for a player­ that in reality is worth no more than the 18m­ offered.

    Mark Hughes should pull the plug on this now­ and look elsewhere before the window closes maybe he­ should take a look at Hangeland or Upson, these are­ just as good as Lescott and will come a whole lot­ cheaper.

    From JOHN, on Sat 22 Aug 9:30AM

  8. get rid of lescott, he doesnt deserve to wear the­ shirt........ the pound signs are in his eyes.... he­ wont be missed 30 million an we can get another 10­ lescotts.... sad man, money motivated... 1878 we will­ always be bigger than city... NIL SATIS NISI OPTIMUM

    From Jason, on Sat 22 Aug 9:23AM

  9. lmao,, money cannot buy success, tell that to man utd,­ chelsea, barcelona, real madrid etc

    From neil, on Sat 22 Aug 8:58AM

  10. We all know whats gonna happen, so just let it happen,­ we want him, everton want the cash, his agent wants the­ cash, the player wants the cash, as far as i'm­ concerned, its done and dusted, He's a city player.

    From Mike, on Sat 22 Aug 8:55AM

  11. Shame on Sparky Hughes, he`s making a fool of himself,­ lescott is`nt worth 10 mill let alone 30 mill, if he­ carries on like this he needs to be sacked, money alone­ cannot buy success !

    From Bike 69, mabaho ka !, on Sat 22 Aug 8:48AM

  12. Lets hope City pull out with Moyes greed.and leave­ Lescot with the toffies.Im sure he will be well liked­ by his teammates!!!!

    From Marge Simpson., on Sat 22 Aug 8:39AM

  13. i am a city fan david, i was pointing out that its an­ inflated price cos we have gone in for him. Moyes is an­ excellent manager and with £20m he could have had could­ bring in some good players. He as shown an eye for­ talented players and could strengthen his squad, which­ he will need to do this season.

    From neil, on Sat 22 Aug 8:21AM

  14. Plenty of city fans on here saying that Lescott's­ not worth £30 m and that everton are being greedy bla­ bla bla. I f thats the case why have City chased him­ for so long? lets not forget that he wasn't put on­ the transfer list and it was city who approached­ everton. If he's not that great, go find another­ centre half! it's that simple. It's more like­ City are trying to get lescott on the cheap by­ unsettling him. Thing lescott has to be careful of is­ if city get fed up and walk away. As has been proven­ there is no loyalty in football. Personally would be­ glad to get rid of him and move on. COYB!!!

    From DAVID, on Sat 22 Aug 8:00AM

  15. i hope Hughes pulls out of the deal now. Moyes is being­ greedy wanting £30m for a player worth £10m. Lescotts­ head is not with Everton now and Moyes will soon be­ regretting not selling him for an already over inflated­ price.

    From neil, on Sat 22 Aug 7:40AM

  16. Another citeh deluded moron , talking down to Everton­ as if citeh were a club with anything like their­ history and Trophies citeh you were a joke always now­ you are a richer more deluded as if it was possible­ Joke .

    From Glenn T, on Sat 22 Aug 6:58AM

  17. If I am Mark Huges, I will ask Moyes to go and fly­ kites. Go get Taylor from Newcastle United. I think he­ is not a good defender and moreover he is much more­ younger than Lescott.

    From chai, on Sat 22 Aug 6:54AM

  18. its ful of tosspots on this yahoo. i hope city smash it­ this season. 100% blueblood

    From keith310779, on Sat 22 Aug 6:11AM

  19. yes Lescott go to city­ hahahahaha.........................

    From wali, on Sat 22 Aug 5:49AM

  20. Moyes has Lescott, so if anyone wants him the price is­ what Moyes asks. £30million sounds fair to me.
    Its­ about time Everton stopped giving players away. And too­ that defenders were valued more. They are as equally­ needed as attackers.

    From kelly b mr, on Sat 22 Aug 1:21AM
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