Lescott to hand Everton his transfer request this afternoon
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EXCLUSIVE: Joleon Lescott to hand Everton a transfer request and prompt £20m move to Manchester City
Lescott battles for the ball with Landon Donovan during Everton's friendly match against the MSL All Stars last week
Everton defender Joleon Lescott is this afternoon expected to hand in a transfer request in a bid to prompt a £20m move to Manchester City.
City have had two bids - the latest for £19m - turned down by the Merseyside club with Everton telling them that the young England international is not for sale. But Sportsmail understands that Lescott was this morning in the process of formally writing to Everton chairman Bill Kenwright to make it clear that he wants to leave, even if it means waiving his rights to a pay-off.
Having had their fingers burned by their failure to land John Terry from Chelsea, City will not increase their offer to Everton until there is a formal and clear indication from Lescott that he is ready to walk away.
City remain optimistic that they will manage to sign Lescott and they are happy to go above the £20m mark to do so. But the Premier League's richest club have identified Newcastle's Sebastien Bassong and Portsmouth's Sylvin Distin as fall-back options if they can not do the deal before the start of the season.
If Lescott does not come than City manager Mark Hughes has been given the go-ahead to sign Bassong and former Eastlands captain Distin.
This, in turn, would pave the way for last season's captain Richard Dunne to leave the club. City have not identified a captain for the new season but summer signing from Aston Villa Gareth Barry is currently favourite.
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Pity for Richard Dunne, Neuoha and Micah Richards.
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They can play every single competition with a complete squad now, one squad one competiton haha!
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i never thought that lescott is the same as others...
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Money talks.
Yah.
