The big questions facing Everton as Manchester City battle for Lescott

The big spenders of Eastlands may have angered David Moyes - but the Goodison boss must ultimately decide what is best for the club. The Joleon Lescott transfer saga has turned into a game of tug-of-war and one that might have no victors whatsoever. Manchester City are desperate for the player and Lescott himself has submitted a transfer request. But Everton manager David Moyes, with the same determination and grit that has characterised his time in the Goodison hot-seat, is refusing to budge. Lescott – keen to engineer a move – has also formally written to both Moyes and Toffees chairman Bill Kenwright outlining the reasons behind his desire to leave. Let’s hope he had the good taste not to simply handover a piece of paper with '£80k a week' printed on it in preposterously large letters. After rejecting two bids worth over £15m, Moyes has also publicly chastised Manchester City about their handling of the affair and accused them of ‘lacking class’. But a few questions have to be raised. Does this posturing exist because a rival club is attempting to sign a key player? Is it merely a tactic to get a cash-rich club to pay (well) above market value? Or is it because players’ contracts are sacrosanct and must be honoured?