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Everton reject £18m Man City bid for Joleon Lescott
30 Jul 2009Everton have rejected a bid of £18million from Manchester City for defender Joleon Lescott.
City contacted their Barclays Premier League rivals with the increased bid for the centre-back - but the Toffees have turned down the offer.
Earlier this summer, the Eastlands club had a bid of £15million rejected, with Everton boss David Moyes insisting no player will leave Everton this summer without his approval.
A club statement from the Goodison club on official website www.evertonfc.com read: "We can confirm we have received an offer of £18million for Joleon Lescott from Manchester City and that offer has been rejected outright."
Everton signed Lescott from Wolves in 2006 and the player has gone on to become a regular in both the Blues' starting XI and the England national squad.
The club had been bracing themselves for another attempt to persuade them to sell the Birmingham-born centre-back.
City are keen to add the versatile Lescott to their expensive new squad, having failed to land John Terry from Chelsea.
It is understood that Lescott, who lives in the Manchester area, would be interested in hearing City's plans for him.
Reader views (2)
Dave your comments a certain irony as Everton were referred to as the "Chequebook Champions" in the '60s.
What goes around...........!
- Mark, South-East London, 31/07/2009 09:14
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Come on Everton, hold firm!!!!
You've made great progress in recent years, slowly and steadily building a quality team in an attempt to ACHIEVE the success that City are now trying to BUY!!!
You don't have to accept City's bid, even if they offered £100m, and Lescott cannot force a move given that he is under CONTRACT. I'm sick and tired of these billionaires' playthings thinking they can throw money at everything and that everybody has their price.
Some things, like loyalty, pride and accomplishment mean more than money!
- Dave, London, 30/07/2009 17:46
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