Transfer news: Joleon Lescott could move to either Tottenham or Newcastle on loan after Manchester City inform him he is no longer needed - reports
Lescott's contract expires at the end of the season and reports claim that Manuel Pellegrini has told the defender he is free to leave on a loan until the end of the season
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Your support makes all the difference.Tottenham are hoping to strengthen their rejuvenated charge towards the top four with the loan signing of Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott, with reports emerging that the Premier League title contenders have given him the England international permission to leave the club.
The Telegraph claim that the 31-year-old has been told by manager Manuel Pellegrini that he is free to find a new club, with interest said to be coming from Spurs and Newcastle as well as French heavyweights AS Monaco.
Lescott joined City for £22m in August 2009, but after a return to form last season that saw him become a first team regular in Roberto Mancini’s final campaign in charge, he has found regular action hard to come by in making just 133 appearances so far this term.
The defender held talks with Pellegrini in the wake of the 3-2 victory at Swansea on New Year’s Day, in which the Chilean is believed to have informed the centre-back that he can depart on loan in an effort to strengthen his chances of finding a new club in the summer when his contract runs out.
With Vincent Kompany and Matija Nastasic Pellegrini’s first choice combination and Martin Demichelis has been deployed ahead of Lescott despite a less than impressive start to his career at the Etihad.
Another potential option for Lescott to explore is the advances of Turksih side Besiktas, although it is said that he would prefer to remain in the Premier League despite the best attempts of the club to lure him to Turkey.
With Spurs experiencing their own defensive problems this season that ultimately led to the departure of former manager Andre Villas-Boas (they conceded six at City before letting in another five at home to Liverpool) recently appointed manager Tim Sherwood could look to strengthen his options at the back with the addition of Lescott.
Emmanuel Adebayor is already on-loan at White Hart Lane from the same club, and his return to form and subsequently a first team place would see City prepared to let another of their players head to the north London club.
However, Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is also keen to bring Lescott to St James’s Park after club captain Fabricio Coloccini was ruled out for around six weeks after he suffered knee ligament damage in the 1-0 defeat to West Brom.
While Monaco would provide an enticing option in a luxurious lifestyle on the Mediterranean coast and the prospect of a large wage package, Lescott’s preference to remain in England appear to stand both Spurs and Newcastle as the frontrunners for his signature.
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