ToffeeWeb - Season 2008-09

Chris Wilson
1 Posted 04/06/2009 at 14:01:47

I just can’t see Lescott leaving. But we all know players get "tapped up" and I wouldn’t put it beyond Hughes - he did learn from Ferguson after all ; ) But I would definitely ask for a massive sum - 15 to 20 million, because then we would have the inconveinence of finding a replacement. Even if Rodwell stepped in, we would still need depth; especially with Jags out. Still, I can’t see Moyes letting Lescott go.

Shaun Brennan
2 Posted 04/06/2009 at 14:12:23

Not only do lazy journalists make stuff up but even fans.

Ben Jones
3 Posted 04/06/2009 at 14:20:08

Noooo..... Moyes has said we will keep our best players.. and Lescott is definitely in that category... we won’t lose him

John Doe
4 Posted 04/06/2009 at 14:35:39

Sell for 20m, replace for 5m.

It’s a simple game really isn’t it?

Roman Fedkiv
5 Posted 04/06/2009 at 14:35:18

Yes Ben, but every player has a pricetag. I don’t won’t to see him go either, but if Citeh drops 25 + mil at our feet, that would be very tempting... It could be a blessing in disguise that Jags got hurt because DM will now need both Lescott and Yobo and said he would not sell. I wonder if that would’ve been the case if Jags was healthy...

Ben Chambers
6 Posted 04/06/2009 at 14:37:26

I really don’t think this is down to lazy journo’s.

It re-surfaces regularly, too regularly and its no secret City’s defence is total shite. It’s no secret that they are loaded and its no secret we are skint.

It’s a crying shame if it happens. It would take £20m upwards to get a 26yr old ENGLAND INTERNATIONAL centre half.

I know the board will not sanction the move even for £50m unless Moyes sanctions it but maybe he might? if he had that type of money coupled with whatever he already has as his budget. He could bring in Moutinho, Ledley and M’bia whilst still having Yobo to replace and Rodwell to cover.

I hope it doesnt happen and I don’t think it will. Money isn’t everything and I just hope if a bid comes in, Lescott has enough about him to say "kiss my arse, money ain’t everything".

Just like Kaka did, oh and Ronaldinho, oh Messi as well. City will get good players but they will never get true world class players in that ilk because at the end of the day, they are still just Man City.

Imagine your CV at the end of your career. AC Milan, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Man City. hahaha

David Barks
7 Posted 04/06/2009 at 14:48:50

If they offer £20 million then I say take it. We still would have our best defender in Jagielka, Yobo is very good and could definitely partner Jags. Then we have Rodwell and the highly rated German kid coming through. In the interest of improving the team I say sell if a high offer comes in. The rumored amount of cash we have to spend this summer in about £15 million right now. If we could add £20 million to that, bringing our total to £35 million, we could significantly improve our midfield. This would allow us to add the likes of Moutinho and still have the cash for multiple other players. The midfield is where we need help, and if Lescott's sale would allow us to do this then I?m all for it.

Justin Widdop
8 Posted 04/06/2009 at 14:57:40

Crazy talk.

Lescott is one of the best centre backs in the Premier League and is improving. Him and Jags together are rocks.

Nothing less than £35 million!

Dan Parker
9 Posted 04/06/2009 at 15:07:27

At least £20 million... but what message does that send if we?re selling our best players to rivals?

Peter Corcoran
10 Posted 04/06/2009 at 15:09:59

So if we have circa £15 million available to spend this summer do you really think it would be increased if we sold Lescott for £15m +?

You are all nuts! If he was sold we would not have any extra dosh over and above the £15 milllion to spend.

Will Leaf
11 Posted 04/06/2009 at 14:56:51

Does anyone know if we have a sell-on clause with Wolves? If that’s the case, it would take extremely silly money to prise him away.

I believe with many of our core players re-signing, Lescott can be comfortable with the team Moyes is building at Everton and want to stay. Being offered six figures a week, however, would turn anyone’s head.

Ciaran MacGiollaEoin
12 Posted 04/06/2009 at 15:36:05

"but what message does that send if we?re selling our best players to rivals? "

Its sends the truth. That we have a benefactor who can’t provide money for the most promising manager in the league -and one we’ll probably end up loosing if it continues.

Ben Chambers
13 Posted 04/06/2009 at 15:43:53

Ciaran,

This leads me to wonder what the fuck is going on when Pompey and Sunderland are getting taken over before the 5th best team in the league, small debt in relation to 70% of the other clubs in the league, a squad that is worth a fortune in trasnfer value and is young and secured on long deals, a huge fanatical fan base that would sell out a stadium if it wasn?t for so many obstructed views, and the best young manager in the UK.

Yes, we will need a new ground but thats the only major spend. The club would not be too expensive to the right buyer and you could buy the club, build a ground for us and clear our £38m debt and it still would not amount to the debt some of the teams have in the the Premier League, according the recent times article.

WHY ARE WE NOT SEEN AS INVESTABLE and a tiny, tiny little club like Pompey, with 21,000 fans, small income, shed of a tiny ground and massive debt seen as more attractive than us??? It's a joke!!! They need a new ground as well! What's goin on??

If we are forced to sell Lescott, Moyes will walk. If he is not backed like he deserves to be, he will walk in time and we will be up shit creek without a paddle. It's down to him, and only him, that we are 5th best team in the league.

GET IT SORTED KENWRIGHT!!!

Aaaah, that?s better.

Ben Chambers
14 Posted 04/06/2009 at 15:56:53

By the way, before everyone starts thinking I am having a go at Blue Bill, I am not.

I think the guy is brilliant but something is wrong when a team like Pompey and Sunderland are getting backers and we can't.

Is he asking too much?

I just wish he would come out and say what the score is?

James Lewis
15 Posted 04/06/2009 at 16:25:39

Ben, I think Bill wants someone to invest but be a silent partner so Bill can stay chairman. I?m not against that idea, but it makes finding a buyer for the club nigh-on impossible. People either buy a club to make money or as an ego thing.

Anyway, regards Lescott, every player has a price. Mind you the price would have to very high. Also, at the moment we only have 2 centre-backs (not including Jags, as he will be out for a good few months of next season), so shouldn?t we be finding some replacement?

Mike McLean
16 Posted 04/06/2009 at 16:53:14

Ben, certainly not for the first time, and doubtlessly not for the last, an admirer of Bill Kenright’s fails to follow his own logic.

(And, by the way, I don’t see Bill as being the fundamental source of all evil ... just the latest in a string of enthusiastic but hopeless leaders who have kept the club in the "nearly" category for too many of its years.)

Bill likes big, showy "me me me" things; other clubs get investment; we don’t.

See the connection?

And, of course, there’s the little matter of the exclusivity deal for Fiasco Kirkby.

Jeremy Benson
17 Posted 04/06/2009 at 17:40:38

Those of you who think we?d get £20+ million for Lescott are living in dreamland.

Even accounting for the fact that City have bags of money and are there to be taken advantage of, and allowing that perhaps their chief scouts didn't (despite what the media and everyone else with two eyes saw) see how poor Lescott was at the start of the season, they still wouldn't bid more than about £12 million for him.

I?d bite their hand off at anything in double figures, to be honest.

Craig Taylor
18 Posted 04/06/2009 at 18:00:42

Ben Chambers, we are not being bought because we would cost too much. The reasons are because of everything you have said. Our squad is better, younger, tied to long term contracts and worth more than your Pompeys and Mackems, and that is why we would command a larger fee when it comes to buying out of our current chairman/regime.

Jeremy Benson
19 Posted 04/06/2009 at 18:10:17

Actually, most of the teams who are being bought, are those with new grounds. Its about 90%. Its not rocket science - no £150 million+ outlay required in the near future.

Everton are not a good investment with a new stadium in the offing.

Fran Mitchell
20 Posted 04/06/2009 at 18:33:07

Rio Ferdinand cost Utd 29mil from Leeds.

We are a club of similar staure that Leeds where then and Lescott is not far away from Ferdinands ability when he was 26. So taking into account that its a few years on, but that Joleon aint quite as good Ferdinand, i’d ask for 30million.

He’s English, 26, been one of the best a most consistant performers for 3 consecutive seasons (minus a 5-8 game blip early this season).

If we get offered 30million, they take it.
We proved when we lost Arteta, Yak, and Jags that we can adapt with loss of individual players.

30million would give ability for 20mil on extra transfers, and budget for 10mil extra wages, that is the sort of money that will get us into the Champions League.

I would trust Moyes to get an equally good defender for 5/6mil - maybe even get Kompany off City as part of te Deal.

No player is unsellable, simple as that. I would like us to keep him, but with no investor imminent, then that sort of money would be vital for our continued development.

Marc Roberts
21 Posted 04/06/2009 at 19:21:55

Kenwright will never sell! He loves the drama too much!!

David Booth
22 Posted 04/06/2009 at 19:28:34

Simple answer: NOT FOR SALE!

Paul Olsen
23 Posted 04/06/2009 at 20:27:34

Lescott is a £10-15 mill type of player and his value probably will never rise any higher than that.

Should someone offer £15 mill, I believe we should sell. £10 mill is a bit short for my liking.

Although I like Lescott, I do think he can be upgraded with a player who has a bit finer touch than him and a little younger.

David Chait
24 Posted 04/06/2009 at 20:58:54

Paul is the first realistic comment I’m afraid... he may be worth 20m to us (or 30m to some) .. but he market value is between 10m to 15m. He is not a name player.. but is highly regarded.... If we were offered 15m I would take it... we can replace him and have money left over... 10m... he is worth too much to us to be able to adequately repleace him. Barry went for 12m, so I don’t see him going for much more... 15m max only cos I think his contract is longer left.

Darren Cookson
25 Posted 04/06/2009 at 21:09:39

We are and always will be a selling club. Until investors come in. Lescott is deffo off to Man City, make no mistake about it. He will be on £90k a week and a fee of £12-15M. The club have only £8M to fund Moyes, plus whatever he pulls in on sales.

Jason Broome
26 Posted 04/06/2009 at 22:07:22

FFS! Bassong is quoted at £15 million and he?s a Championship player!

Lescott is one of our best players and I would rather maintain our stability and growth by adding and not subtracting from our team...

however he is English, naturally left-footed, young, has 2 dodgy knees and the richest club in the world have no moral compass!

Lescott is as important to our defence as Robinho is to their attack. £10-15 Million? Why sell him short? Including Jagielka he is in the top 5 best English defenders in the country.

Why should we blink?

If they really want him then out of the reported £40 Billion they have amassed - 0.08% (£20M) of their fortune is not asking much!

James Stewart
27 Posted 04/06/2009 at 23:06:28

For £20M I would drive him personally to Manchester! Anyone who thinks he is worth that are insane! Yobo is the better player and I have consistently said this. £20m plus whatever is already available is a hefty budget by our standards.

As for City... they are a total joke and so much so my good friend who supports them doesn't even bother anymore. I for one am happy we don't have that kind of investment! City will not finish any higher than they did this season. Mark my words...

Kev Kendall
28 Posted 04/06/2009 at 23:53:14

Call their bluff. If they’re serious about wanting him, and with us neither needing to nor wanting to sell, go back to them asking for £25m AND Jo, in return for England International, Goal Scoring, can play in numerous positions Defender.

If they say no, end of conversation.

If they are going to try and bully teams, then we should stand up for ourselves, make a statement to them and to everyone else.

Jason Broome
29 Posted 05/06/2009 at 03:06:58

We talk about loyalty in football. We see players demanding huge wages or engineering moves.

Are we any better?

We need to stay loyal to our own. Out of £15M we would need to re-invest at least £10M on his successor (and then there are no guarantees).

Part of the Rooney money was pissed away on Krøldrup and Van der Meyde (sound investments).

Lescott and Jagielka are the new Mountfield and Ratcliffe. Why upset the rhythm of our team?

We need to bring in Lucas Neil, sell Hibbert and Anichebe for a combined £6M and invest heavily in MIDFIELD!

Alan Clarke
30 Posted 05/06/2009 at 08:56:28

Andy, are you on drugs?

James Macdonald
31 Posted 05/06/2009 at 09:26:32

If we could extract something over 20 million from Man City, and also get Richard Dunne into the bargain, then on paper at least it would seem to make good sense. However, I think it would send out the wrong signal to the rest of the squad as to the ambition of the club and therefore in the long run santioning such a move would be detrimental. So, unless City are prepared to pay such a ludicrous sum, such as 25 million plus, then no way.

Craig Taylor
32 Posted 05/06/2009 at 09:41:26

We definately shouldn’t sell him, however if Man city are prepared to wave silly money 25m + then I think that we would be silly to turn that down. Lets be fair, we know they have shit loads of money so if they seriously want him then we should squeeze every penny out of them.
However if Lescott was to say he isn’t interested in a move, then that should be the end of the matter.

Joe White
33 Posted 05/06/2009 at 10:03:29

I was told £30m is the price that Moyes has asked of City.

David Booth
34 Posted 05/06/2009 at 10:15:42

I cannot believe the amount of people seemingly willing to cash in on Lescott. Along with Jagielka, he is the bedrock of a tremendous defence.

He?s young enough to remain a key player for the next six or seven years.
He scores goals.
He?s amazingly injury-free.
He?s an England international.
He clearly has become part of the Evertonian ethos the current team so admirably demonstrate.

...and most of you would be happy to sell him? Moyes and Kenwright out too eh? What do you people want?

Chris Fisher
35 Posted 05/06/2009 at 10:17:12

£30 mill or they can fuck off! I don't care how much money they have, they're never going to be a big club and anyone who goes there is a mug if they think they're going to win things. I guarantee we will finish above them next season and the one after that and the one after that!!!

Alan Clarke
36 Posted 05/06/2009 at 10:57:15

Boothy, they’ll be the same people that chant "Judas" and "greedy bastard" at him if he plays for City at Goodison.

Tim Wardrop
37 Posted 05/06/2009 at 11:00:39

Everyone has their price. Lescott’s is £20 million, plus Robinho.

Ralph Wetzels
38 Posted 05/06/2009 at 12:27:40

I don’t know if anyone’s mentioned it but what if Man City throw in Jo as makeweight/bait. For example: Jo plus 5-7 million in exchange for Lescott. Why can’t Rodwell play centre-back?

James Stewart
39 Posted 05/06/2009 at 13:12:13

Because, Peter, he is NOT one of our best players! See the cup final for example! Yes, he scores goals but I've lost count of the number of times he loses concentration ? even worse than Yobo! He is not a £20M player and anyone who thinks he is, is deluded!

He could be replaced very easily.

Alasdair Mackay
40 Posted 05/06/2009 at 13:41:58

The thing that everyone is missing is that Lescott is a naturally left footed centre back of real quality. These are few and far between and add balance to the back four. He is and should be one of the first names on the team sheet when he is fit and, for me, would be very hard to replace.

That said; every player has his price and I think if we got £30million for him I would be accepting and would trust that we have the right team at the helm to find an equivalent relacement within that budget and still make a profit

Fran Mitchell
41 Posted 05/06/2009 at 14:53:43

10mil + Michael Johnson, Jo, Gelson Fenandes, Martin Petrov and Vincent
Kompany

That would do us nicely

Peter rogers "do not sell at any price"????
"its time to buy and invest"???? buy and invest with what exactly.

Lescott is a good player, no doubt about it. However he is not the best defender in the world, and he could be replaced. So whats with this dont sell at any price. Everyone has a price, simple as that.

People on here on saying we want to sell or lose him, it was a discussion in the hypotheical relm of what is money bags city do bid for him, what would be satisfactory. Its not like were damanding his sale, but if City come calling, it could be a method of gaining some much required capital. Yes if the offer 12mil, then no they can fuck off but heck if we get £25mil for him, we coud sign a replacement - Mancienne, Wheater etc and still have 15+mil in the bank. If we could also get a couple of City rejects like Petrov (a fantasitic winger), Johnson/Fernandes (quality central midfielders), Jo etc then we would be in a better position to compete with Citys millions than with Lescott and a couple of loans and maybe 1 extra player.

Fran Mitchell
42 Posted 05/06/2009 at 15:07:24

Also, City WILL become a threat, and will perform better than last season. It appears they are going about it the correct way... midfield of Ireland, Barry and de Jong, is top quality. If they get Tevez they will have Robinho, Tevez and Wright-Phillips in a 3 pronged attack. plus other signings. It is unfortunate, but it shows why it is key we invest sufficiently to push for 4th.

Arsenal will be stronger next season, but Villa will be weaker which will help us. So we desparately need to invest money in our squad. If that means losing 1 player to help it then so be it. But we got £13mil for AJ last season, so Lescott would have to be significantly more.

Ian McDowell
43 Posted 05/06/2009 at 15:16:21

I personally think that Lescott will end up at City. No one could deny him a double your money deal at City because thats what they would offer.

If we did sell how that reflect Everton to the current players and players we are looking to bring in. Would they view us a selling club which we have not been since we sold Rooney.

A replacement would probably not be cheap and how would they settle in to the team spirit etc,

Jimmy Daly
44 Posted 05/06/2009 at 12:29:33

Have a nephew who is on the books, he says a lot of rumours, (AND THEY ARE RUMOURS), flying around the training ground that Lescott will go to City for around £18mil, plus we get Dunne back as part of the deal. Also M'bia is a done deal, as is Neill.

Moutinho has not been mentioned, although same source says that Moyes is bringing in two other signings, one from lower leagues, Ledley. The other from the Bundesliga???

Ciaran MacGiollaEoin
45 Posted 05/06/2009 at 15:49:58

Ben,

£38 mill debt?

I know we haven?t had an AGM in some time..but the reports are that it?s closer to £90 mill that we are in hock for.

Davey Thomas
46 Posted 05/06/2009 at 15:59:57

If we sell Lescott in return for Dunne then my season ticket is going back. I hope that's as unlikely as it is pathetic sounding. Pienaar to Hull for Kilbane and a tenner?

Roman Fedkiv
47 Posted 05/06/2009 at 19:19:20

Here is some senseless paranoia....On the OS there is a link to the new kits that has a pic of Howard, Yobo, Nev, Baines and Jags. Is this our starting back 4 for 09/10? Why no Lescott? Hmmm ... is this a sign of things to come?

John Martin
48 Posted 05/06/2009 at 19:55:12

I hope it is just a rumour and Lescott doesn't go anywhere. He?s been a very good defender for us and hopefully will continue to improve. It also sends out the wrong message if we sell. However, if we do sell we?ll move on we always do, we?ve lost better players than Lescott and we are still about.

Graham Brandwood
49 Posted 05/06/2009 at 21:06:25

No way we can let him go. it gives out all the wrong messages. We are not a selling club. Our improvement is based on a sound defence. We need 4 quality centre backs with the amount of games we hope to play next season. Centre backs work in paires and for the last three years we have been tight at the back because you can put Jags or Yobo at right sided centre but whenever Lescot is not there it is not as good. Does anybody no of a better left sided center back in the game i don’t. Until someone commes up with a player that is better than Lescot at left centre, and will come to Everton then we can’t let him go.

Alex Storm
50 Posted 06/06/2009 at 08:22:08

I’d very much doubt that’d we’d sell one of the best defenders in the league to one of our rivals because 1) We don’t want to strengthen our competitors for a Europa league position. 2) I don’t think Lescott would be eager to move from Everton to Man City. 3) With Jags out until Oct/Nov?

We’d be left with just Yobo(whos had a few knocks this past season) and Rodwell who hasn’t played at centre half for the first team as best that I recall. If we sign a young, pacy, quality right back the backline will be sorted. Besides If we sold Lescott who would we replace him with? I can’t think of many better centrebacks aound.

garry martin
51 Posted 06/06/2009 at 08:45:56

The only way Lescott should be aloud to leave is £20 million plus Stephen Ireland, now that’s what I call a good move !!.

Andrew Fletcher
52 Posted 06/06/2009 at 14:50:05

I dont want him to go but if he wants the money and Moyes wants the funds then £20m min, as its city I would be pushing for £25m or £20m plus Jo

Dominic Bobadilla
53 Posted 06/06/2009 at 17:02:58

Simple swap deal: Robinho for Lescott

Richard Parker
54 Posted 07/06/2009 at 09:00:23

Would not want Robinho, certainly for the wages he’s on.

Lescott to Many City. We don’t need to sell him unless he really wants to go, so bollocks to it, £25M plus Jo and don’t budge.

Is Lescott worth it? Market value, probably not, but any asset is worth what the buyer is prepared to pay for it.

If they don’t pay it, then we get to keep a top centre half. If they do, then we’ve bolstered our strike force and got enough for 2 more top players.

Matthew Lovekin
55 Posted 07/06/2009 at 12:59:17

I have always been a fan of Micah Richards. However, it has always been unlikely that we would ever sign him...until recently.

It looked like Richards could be on his way out of City a few months ago after lack of form and due to City's impending multi-million pound onslaught on the transfer market for every Tom, Dick and Harry.

However, these hopes were dashed about a month ago as Mark Hughes came out and said he didn't want to sell Richards. Fair enough. A quality young player going through the usual second season syndrome but gradually getting back on track.

Now, today. City want to offer us the services of Richards. Brilliant. What's the catch? The catch is City want to exchange Richards for Lescott. Now I know Richards is good and I would love to have him at Goodison but I really don't want to sacrifice Lescott either.

If the story is true, then it's a really tough decision to make, especially if City throw us £5m-£10m.

David Marsden
56 Posted 07/06/2009 at 12:47:14

Everton manager David Moyes tells BBC 5 Live's Sportsweek that the club will not be selling defender Joleon Lescott to finance new summer signings.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8087796.stm

Stewart Littler
57 Posted 09/06/2009 at 08:32:56

A replacement for £5million??? What a fu**ing joke!

We will not have Jags until November at least. We will not have Yobo for the whole of January and possibly some of February.

No amount of money would make me want to sell.