Lescott Departure Imminent?

According to The Sun, Joleon Lescott is finally about to put an end to what has become one of the summer’s longest transfer sagas by completing a move to from Everton to Manchester City. Though no quotes have been forthcoming from the player, the consensus amongst the national press is that the England International is eager to make the move but is reluctant to put his request in writing – fearing an angry backlash from Evertonians should a deal fail to materialise.

While The Sun is by no means a bastion of truth with regards to football transfers (or anything else for that matter), Lescott’s silence throughout the summer has been deafening. Despite David Moyes’ insistence that none of his first-team squad will be leaving Goodison Park, there is an air of inevitability around Lescott’s departure.

The fee is being reported as £22m paid upfront, with additional add-ons to follow. On the surface £22m for a centre-half looks like fantastic business for any selling club, but it’s important to remember that Everton’s awful financial position and threadbare squad means that it will take a considerable chunk of the transfer money they receive just to fill the gap that will be created should Lescott leave.

As well as being first-choice at centre-half, Lescott also provides quality cover at full-back, and with Nuno Valente’s departure from the club leaving Leighton Baines as Everton’s only senior left-back, Lescott’s versatility will be more crucial than ever to David Moyes’ plans for the new season.

Wolves, Lescott’s former club, will be due 15% of any fee that Everton receive for the player who has scored 15 goals in three seasons with the Toffees. Given that David Moyes is already searching for a centre-half to cover Phil Jagielka’s long-term absence through injury, it seems unlikely that the PFA Manager of the Year will have much left over to bolster Everton’s weak right side of defence and midfield should he also have to find replacements for Lescott at left and centre-back.

Moyes’ first significant signing of the summer looks set to be Arsenal’s Swiss International centre-half Phillipe Senderos. While confirming an interest in signing the defender, who has recently re-joined Arsenal after an underwhelming loan spell at AC Milan, Everton have insisted that he is not being lined up as a replacement for Lescott. Reports suggest that Senderos is keen on the move having become surplus at Arsenal, but that the two clubs are yet to reach an agreement over the fee for a player who has entered the final year of his contract.