WENGER HUNTING £12M LESCOTT

He will also have to fend off mega-rich Manchester City, who are prepared to break the bank for Lescott, 26, and the
Toffees’ Spanish playmaker Mikel Arteta, 27.

Gunners boss Wenger is desperate to sign an experienced central defender to bring stability to his back four.

And the usually cautious Frenchman would be willing to offer around £12million to sign the classy Everton star, who joined the Blues from Wolves.

The Goodison club rate Lescott at a much higher price, somewhere in the £18m bracket.

Not that they would be willing to do business anyway, as Moyes prepares to strengthen his FA Cup Final squad, not dismantle it.

Lescott is one of Moyes’ prized possessions and he will be firmly against any attempt to snatch his cultured defender away from Goodison Park.

But that won’t stop the Arsenal chief from making his summer move, although it is clear that Moyes is under no pressure from chairman Bill Kenwright to cash in on any of his high-profi le players.

The Arsenal squad is packed with star-studded youngsters but Wenger is desperate to bring in older heads in vital positions.

Lescott would come in after firmly establishing himself as an Everton and England player of note.

He is versatile too, easily able to slot into the left-back berth.

And that has appeal for Wenger, who needs players who can switch positions comfortably at the back.