Has The Lescott Saga Cost City?

The long drawn out saga surrounding Joleon Lescott’s potential move to Manchester City, has taken a tool on the clubs preparations for this Saturday’s opening fixture against Blackburn. Lescott represents the most versatile defender not playing for an entrenched big four club in the Premier League, and City’s pursuit of him was thought to represent an opportunity for Everton to raise critical funds.

But David Moyes whose record of achievement with his Toffee side is second none among non “big four” clubs realizes no amount of money is going to offset the loss of such a critical component of his club so close to the start of a new season.

But where does that leave City and Mark Hughes?  Much of English Football has been abuzz this summer about the arrogance of Manchester City, not only because they are driving prices for players up to levels that other Premiership clubs cannot afford to pay, but also because City continues to struggle to sign any linked targets from outside England.

Now the drawn out saga over Lescott, whom we must believe Hughes thought he’s eventually land has costs the club two and a half critical summer months to identify other targets so close to the start of the new campaign.

Simply put, this saga has been for lack of a better term a debacle, and one which City is likely to pay for throughout the early weeks of the 2009-10 season.