EVERTON have turned down a written transfer request from Manchester City bound Joleon Lescott. (Daily Mail)Goodison Park boss David Moyes insists his defender is not for sale, but City are increasingly confident they will land Lescott in time for the big kick-off on Saturday, taking Mark Hughes' spending this summer past �100million.

EVERTON have turned down a written transfer request from Manchester City bound Joleon Lescott. (Daily Mail)

Goodison Park boss David Moyes insists his defender is not for sale, but City are increasingly confident they will land Lescott in time for the big kick-off on Saturday, taking Mark Hughes' spending this summer past �100million.

City believe their final offer of �20m plus add-ons for the England international will be accepted by Everton, who remain unhappy with their North West rivals.

A statement on the Everton website explained: “The defender has been the subject of two bids from Manchester City in recent weeks. The player has subsequently submitted a written request to leave the club which manager David Moyes immediately rejected.

“Everton have turned down offers of �15m and �18m from Mark Hughes' Manchester City for the experienced central defender.”

Boss Moyes added: “I have always said that we are not selling any players and that hasn't changed.”

City privately declared the move all but dead over the weekend, but it is understood they were given encouragement on Monday afternoon and are now hopeful of having the player in their line-up to face Blackburn.

While City are paying over �5m more than they originally expected, it once again shows the support for manager Hughes from the rich owners. Hughes, who has already spent �95m on a host of top players including Lescott's England team-mate Gareth Barry, has considered other options, including West Ham's Matthew Upson and Chelsea captain John Terry.

But he wants Lescott in a left-foot, right-foot partnership with Kolo Toure that he believes can be the solid base to support their all-star attacking options.