Everton to reject £18m bid for Lescott

EVERTON will today formally reject a second bid from Manchester City for England defender Joleon Lescott.

The Goodison Park club confirmed last night that an £18 million (€21m) bid has been received from City, and club sources insist that it will be turned down once chairman and owner Bill Kenwright has informed the rest of the board.

City made an initial £15m (€17.4m) bid for the 27-year-old last week, which was rejected, and Everton have been bracing themselves for another attempt to persuade them to sell the Birmingham-born centre-back.

The source reiterated Kenwright and Moyes’ stance from a recent shareholders’ forum when it was made clear that no player would be sold by Everton this summer against the wishes of Moyes.

Moyes underlined that view by saying “no player will be sold by this club”. But City are, as expected, being persistent. Having failed to land John Terry from Chelsea they have yesterday completed the signing of Arsenal’s Kolo Toure for £16m (€18.6m).

Now they are determined to add the versatile Lescott to their expensive new squad.

What now seems clear is that Moyes and Kenwright will dig their heels in unless Lescott makes an official transfer request, which would then make the club’s position more difficult.

It is understood that Lescott, who lives in the Manchester area, would be interested in hearing City’s plans for him.