Source: Telegraph
Joleon Lescott dropped by Everton
Wednesday’s development nudges the England centre-half closer to the outstretched arms of Manchester City.
Moyes, who has dropped Lescott from the squad to face Sigma Olomuc in a Europa League qualifier at Goodison on Thursday night, insists City must reach his evaluation for the player, believed to be more than £25 million. Everton bought Lescott for £5 million in 2006 and Wolves are due a 15-per-cent cut of any fee.
Having already rejected two City bids of £15 million and £18 million, Moyes argues that there is currently a premium on English centre-halves. "We have not had a significant enough offer,’’ said Moyes. "I have never wanted to sell the player but (Cristiano) Ronaldo was sold by Manchester United - there will always be a price for a player, but Manchester City have not come close to meeting ours for Joleon Lescott.
"John Terry and Rio Ferdinand are first choice for England. People were talking about £40-50 million for Terry (and Ferdinand cost £30 million in 2002). After that there is a group of Phil Jagielka, Joleon Lescott with Matthew Upson and with all due respect to Upson he is 30. After that there is another group and you ask where do England go for their next centre-backs? Because of the shortage the prices of centre-backs have risen dramatically.’’
Sources at Eastlands have detected a thaw in on-going negotiations with Everton, although Moyes insists "it was not inevitable that Lescott will leave’’. Even if Moyes looks set to lose the player, the manager’s strong stance has been widely admired within football.
The modern player is so powerful, and the riches on offer at Eastlands so dazzling, that money talks and talent tends to walk in football. "People are talking about the money he will get at City but he shouldn't have received any financial offer because he is an Everton player,’’ stressed Moyes.
"This is someone who only agreed a new four-year contract this time last year. I think there maybe are other reasons apart from sporting for him wanting to go. At the end of your career you want medals and maybe Joleon feels that Manchester City are the best place for him to achieve that - but you never know.’’
Moyes decided to act in the wake of Saturday’s 6-1 humiliation by Arsenal, a result and performance that he said "damaged my reputation’’, although few managers are more highly regarded. Lescott appeared distracted, and clearly all the headlines and uncertainty affected Moyes’ team. "I couldn't let it drift,’’ added Moyes.
"Joleon is a very good boy behind it all and the people who have been advising him are giving him poor information and have turned a good lad into something else. The talks he has had with people have obviously upset him and he has lost his direction but that can be brought back. He has a World Cup to aim for at the end of the season.
"I feel Joleon has been got to and he is letting himself down with his own behaviour. Normally he is a very good trainer and very focused but he doesn't seem to be that at this present time. I can see by the reaction of his team-mates that they are disappointed in him as well.
"His attitude has been poor. It doesn’t mean the end of his Everton career. He might be in the first-team squad for this weekend (against Burnley) if I see there is a change in his attitude. It doesn't mean his valuation to us has dropped.
"Maybe the Premier League needs to step in and ask questions about what has been going on. There should be some honour and integrity between clubs and if that goes it becomes a free-for-all.
"There are correct ways to do things. There is a price on every player, we all know how it works, but if there is a fundamental breakdown in the relationship between chairman and chairman, chief exec and chief exec, or manager and manager then that is not good for the running of our game. The Premier League should bring in rules and regulations to make sure this cannot be done.’’
Moyes is close to bringing in a "front-line’’ centre-half, and has been linked with Steven Taylor, Ryan Shawcross and Michael Turner. "I will have another centre-half soon, at least one, and Joleon will have a decision to make. Until his attitude changes he won't be included.’’ Either Phil Neville or Jack Rodwell will partner Joseph Yobo at centre-back against Sigma.
