Mark Hughes finds it hard to win friends at wealthy Manchester City
15 Aug 2009 - 23:33:23
New money is always noisy. Social climbing is always vulgar. So, despite Manchester City's best efforts they are going to make plenty of enemies on their way to the top. David Moyes has taken particular exception to the "disgusting" violation of the established etiquette. Inflammatory stuff.
Hard to find the insult in offering £18 million for a 26-year-old defender with seven England caps. Joleon Lescott is a good player but Moyes has reacted as if his character had been publicly dragged through the mud.
City are not playing by the 'old boy' rules, Moyes has implied. There were even hints that Lescott had been illegally approached, Moyes claiming his head had been "twisted" by City.
That kind of insinuation crying tapping up is itself dishonourable. If Everton suspect that City have broken the rules, why not report them? It is not up to Everton to prove anything let the authorities investigate. Otherwise, it is just slander.
Hughes admits to being "bemused" by the strength of some of the vitriol. "We are trying to conduct our business in the right way, through the proper channels, and make it happen," Hughes said.
"At the end of the day he is Everton's player and they will have the final say and we respect that.
"I think I'm correct in saying that we did not publicise the fact we were interested in Joleon Lescott. I think the first news of that was published on Everton's website." Hughes said the situation with Lescott was still "fluid", although with the poison in the air a deal looks highly unlikely. It has even been suggested that Moyes might resign if the player were sold against his will.
Hughes admitted that he was ready with other options. Top of his list is believed to be Matthew Upson, of West Ham. Before Lescott handed in a transfer request last week, with City thinking the deal dead, they asked West Ham about Upson's availability but were put off when quoted £15 million for a 30 year-old who has just turned down a contract extension.
However, West Ham are having to operate on an extremely tight budget and have apparently lowered their price. Upson has made it clear that he would only make the right move for him in a season ending in the World Cup.
"It's a difficult situation until there's something on the table," he said. "But West Ham's financial predicament is quite well noted. Whether or not that means someone will have to be sold, I don't know."
