Toffees confirm Senderos talks

04 August 2009 06:24
The Goodison Park club say that a fee has yet to be agreed for the 24-year-old centre-back. The Swiss Football Federation claimed on their website on Monday night that the defender's move had been confirmed. However Everton chairman Bill Kenwright said: "We have been negotiating with Arsenal for the transfer of Philippe. Nothing has been concluded yet but talks are on-going." A fee of about £6million is being discussed for the player who was on loan to AC Milan last season, playing 15 times. An Everton club source insisted that Senderos - who joined Arsenal in 2003 - was not being signed as a direct replacement for Joleon Lescott, who is at the centre of a battle with Manchester City for his signature. Everton have rejected two bids, £15million and £18million, for the England defender. But Lescott did hold talks with boss David Moyes on Monday, but did not put in a formal transfer request. Senderos is being lined up as cover at the back for Everton, where Phil Jagielka is not due back from a knee injury until November at the earliest. However, Senderos' arrival on Merseyside would compensate for a possible Lescott departure. Lescott has been told by Moyes he will not be sold and City have yet to put in a third bid, which could be as much as £22million. He is ruled out of Tuesday night's friendly at Blackpool with a hip injury, but should be fit to play in Friday's home friendly with Malaga. Everton's stance has been firm throughout the saga, and if Lescott did submit a formal transfer request there is every chance that the club would turn it down. Manchester City believe the fee will be closer to £30million, and may well feel that is too much to pay.

Source: Team_Talk