Source: Telegraph
Everton reject Joleon Lescott's transfer request and will rebuff Manchester City
Lescott, 26, who is in Amsterdam for England's friendly against Holland, officially informed Everton of his desire to leave Goodison Park on Wednesday morning, but his transfer request was dismissed by Moyes within an hour.
"Joleon Lescott put in a written transfer request which I immediately rejected," said Moyes. "Joleon is simply not for sale.
"I have always said that we are not selling any players and that hasn't changed. We will continue to work with him as we appreciate his many qualities as a player. "
City manager Mark Hughes is now pondering his next move after having bids of £15 million and £18 million rejecting by Everton in recent weeks.
With Moyes and Everton chairman Bill Kenwright steadfast in their determination to resist City's approaches, Hughes is understood to be contemplating the unlikely prospect of Everton performing an about-turn should a third bid of £20 million be lodged.
Having written off the chances of signing Lescott over the weekend, City received encouragement from sources unrelated to Everton on Monday that a deal could yet be struck before the Premier League opener at Blackburn on Saturday.
But Moyes's stance has not wavered and, with England defender Phil Jagielka sidelined until December with a cruciate knee ligament injury, he has made it clear to Kenwright that he will not sanction the sale of Lescott at any price.
Having committed himself to a £40,000-a-week, four-year contract just 12 months ago, Everton are confident that they are in a strong position with Lescott and under no pressure to sell the player.
City would be willing to offer Brazilian forward Jo, currently on a season-long loan at Goodison Park, in part exchange in an effort to drive through a deal.
Lescott was afforded a rapturous reception by Everton supporters during the club's friendly at home to Malaga last Friday, but City's best hope of signing the player now rests on those supporters turning on the defender.
Moyes is unlikely to allow such an outcome to soften his stance, however.
As a result, City are now preparing to shift their sights elsewhere, with West Ham defender Matthew Upson and Portsmouth's Sylvain Distin now set to be subject of bids before the weekend.
West Ham remain determined to receive £15 million for Upson, a figure rated as too high by City, who rate the England defender in the £10-12 million bracket.
Upson is placed higher than Distin in Hughes's hit list, but the former City captain is understood to be keen to return to Eastlands from Portsmouth, who could be ready to do business if City offer £6 million for the Frenchman.
Martin Petrov, meanwhile, has told the Bulgarian media he wants to quit Manchester City in order to secure first-team football.
The 30 year-old left-winger, on international duty with Bulgaria ahead of Wednesday's friendly with Latvia, told reporters in Dnevnik: "I don't see City depending too much on me this season."
