Everton to cash in on Lescott

MANCHESTER City will make a formal �15million bid for Everton defender Joleon Lescott inside the next 48 hours. (Daily Mirror)

The Eastlands club will tempt the England centre-back by offering to double his salary with a staggering �80,000-a-week, five-year contract.

Goodison boss David Moyes is desperate to keep his FA Cup final squad together.

But he may be tempted to allow Lescott, 26, to leave if he can first find a suitable replacement.

City manager Mark Hughes has already landed striker Roque Santa Cruz with Carlos Tevez to follow - and he has strengthened his midfield with the capture of Gareth Barry. Now he will turn his attention to City's defence, with Lescott seen as a key component of his new-look line-up to take on the Big Four.

Lescott is believed to be interested, especially given the startling figures being mentioned, and City are convinced Everton will eventually be prepared to do business.

Moyes has already been linked with a move for Russia international centre-half Sergei Ignashevich at CSKA Moscow.

CSKA president Yevgeny Giner confirmed he had received an “interesting” offer for Ignashevich, who has won 48 caps.

Moyes is also monitoring Marseille's out-of-contract centre-back Renato Civelli, an Argentinan with an Italian passport, who has also caught the eye of Blackburn and Birmingham.

Civelli would be available on a free - and that would enable Moyes to use the whole of any fee for Lescott to buy a central midfielder.

Everton have had one enquiry for Standard Liege midfielder Steven Defour rebuffed, but could return.

City defender Richard Dunne is on his way out with Sunderland favourites to land him, but he might be used as a makeweight in the Lescott transfer.

Everton are also ready to bid �6m for Tottenham full-back Alan Hutton. Scottish international Hutton, 24, does not fit into Harry Redknapp's plans.

He has struggled since his �8m move from Rangers 18 months ago and Spurs plan a major shake-up.