Joleon Lescott to beg Everton to let him join Manchester City

Joleon Lescott will write a begging letter to Everton to let him join Manchester City.

England defender Lescott is ready to pen a personal plea to Goodison owner Bill Kenwright.

City boss Mark Hughes may yet have to pay £30million for the centre-half he wants to play alongside new signing Kolo Toure in the heart of City's defence this season.

Lescott broke the news that he wants to leave Merseyside to manager David Moyes yesterday and will now make that decision formal.

Lescott knows he could walk into a contract where his wages will be trebled if he goes to City and he hopes to appeal to Kenwright's human nature and ask him not to stand in his way.

Moyes had claimed Lescott would not leave during this transfer window but Everton have been left in no doubt about the player's feelings.

Kenwright is likely to accept Lescott's request as the Toffees will not want to keep an unhappy star - but he will hold out for a big fee from City.

It's turning into a bad week for Moyes, who fears for the health of Marouane Fellaini.

"He picked up a viral infection and he's lost a lot of weight," said Moyes. "You can see how thin he's become."