Hughes Hits Back At Moyes
Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 6:59 pmMark Hughes has hit back at David Moyes by insisting it was Everton who made public interest in Joleon Lescott from Manchester City.
The Eastlands boss also confirmed he had no interest in ending his chase for the England international - despite having two bids of £15m and £18m turned down by Goodison Park officials.
Moyes launched a scathing attack on City on Friday, describing their approach to signing the 26-year-old as "disgusting", and insisting he would not be railroaded into selling Lescott.
Hughes turned the screw after City opened the new Premier League season with a 2-0 win against his old club Blackburn, revealing he would not be put off by Moyes and blaming Everton for making his interest in the defender public in the first place.
"I have said before when a deal has run its course we would be prepared to walk away," said Hughes.
"At this moment in time, we are still to arrive at that position. Our interest is not finished yet.
"The headlines were quite predictable. I am not surprised David feels a bit aggrieved with the situation, you always are when a big club comes along trying to acquire one of your better players.
"You never want them to leave but we feel we are doing things the right way and through the proper channels."
"I could pick up the phone and ring David very easily. I would ask him whether I could have his player, he would say no and I would have to put the telephone down. What would be the point of that?" he added.
"The thing is we haven't put this into the public domain. Everton did that on their website."
The Eastlands boss also confirmed he had no interest in ending his chase for the England international - despite having two bids of £15m and £18m turned down by Goodison Park officials.
Moyes launched a scathing attack on City on Friday, describing their approach to signing the 26-year-old as "disgusting", and insisting he would not be railroaded into selling Lescott.
Hughes turned the screw after City opened the new Premier League season with a 2-0 win against his old club Blackburn, revealing he would not be put off by Moyes and blaming Everton for making his interest in the defender public in the first place.
"I have said before when a deal has run its course we would be prepared to walk away," said Hughes.
"At this moment in time, we are still to arrive at that position. Our interest is not finished yet.
"The headlines were quite predictable. I am not surprised David feels a bit aggrieved with the situation, you always are when a big club comes along trying to acquire one of your better players.
"You never want them to leave but we feel we are doing things the right way and through the proper channels."
"I could pick up the phone and ring David very easily. I would ask him whether I could have his player, he would say no and I would have to put the telephone down. What would be the point of that?" he added.
"The thing is we haven't put this into the public domain. Everton did that on their website."