Source: Telegraph
Mark Hughes keen to take 'final step' over Joleon Lescott transfer
Moyes has described City's attempts to lure Lescott to Eastlands as "disgusting" but, despite rejecting the player's transfer request and offers of £15 million and £19 million from City, the Everton manager appears to have made the England defender's departure inevitable by dropping him from the first-team squad and denouncing his "poor attitude" this week. Moyes's condemnation of City's behaviour throughout the Lescott saga mirrored similarly critical observations of the Abu Dhabi-backed club by rival Premier League managers this summer. Related ArticlesMan City v Wolves previewLescott bid hits stalemateSanta Cruz derby returnBarcelona 0 Man City 1Everton 4 Sigma Olomouc 0Everton drop LescottBut despite City's growing unpopularity within the game, Hughes, who has not contacted Moyes in an effort to ease tensions, insists he will not be sidetracked by the negative comments. Hughes said: "It [criticism] doesn't bother me at all. It comes with the territory. "We have been criticised, at times correctly, at times unfairly and that won't stop. It's a case of getting on with it. "The reaction from some quarters has been quite predictable and we haven't been surprised by some of the things we have heard. "People are shouting from the rooftops about all the money we are spending and passing comment on all the predictable things. "I think he (Moyes) feels a little bit aggrieved, but I have said time and time again that we are quite comfortable with how it (the Lescott deal) has progressed to this point. "Situations develop when people take an interest in your players and you have to deal with it. It's happened to me in the past and, at the moment, it is happening to Everton. "Whether or not we can actually take the final step is obviously dependent on Everton's view on what they think they need. The final decision is Everton's and that doesn't change." Hughes dismisses the notion that City's critics are fuelled by jealousy of the club's vast spending power, but he believes there an "unhealthy interest" in the business conducted at Eastlands. With 10 days to go before the transfer window closes on Sept 1, City are likely to make a third offer for Lescott and Hughes is confident that the events surrounding the player this week will open up the possibility of a deal. He said: "We have not gone back to the table in terms of money, but we haven't reached the point where would walk away. "Whether or not there has been a thaw in Everton' stance is up for other people to decide, but that (Lescott being dropped) is why I would suggest there is maybe a little bit of leeway now." Carlos Tevez is likely to make his first City start against Wolves on Saturday with Robinho struggling to overcome an ankle injury and despite Robinho's displeasure at being substituted at Blackburn last Saturday, Hughes insists he is happy with the £32 million Brazilian forward. Hughes said: "People are disappointed when taken off and Robi was a little bit disappointed but I don't think he showed any dissent. "He has had experience of not playing every game for Real Madrid, so it's not something that is new to him."