Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has told Joleon Lescott he will reject any offers for himManuel Pellegrini has told Joleon Lescott he will reject any offers for theEngland defender after insisting that the 30-year-old is a key figure in hisplans at Manchester City.
Pellegrini, who will be officially unveiled as City manager at a pressconference this afternoon (Weds), takes his squad to South Africa thisevening (Weds) for the first stage of the club’s pre-season preparations.
And the Chilean has ended uncertainty surrounding Lescott’s future at theEtihad Stadium by telling the former Everton centre-half that he regards hisexperience as a crucial element of his defensive options in the comingcampaign.
Following the departure of Kolo Toure to Liverpool and Real Madrid’s refusalto sell Portugal international Pepe, Pellegrini remains keen to add anestablished centre-half to his squad to provide competition for Lescott,Matija Nastasic and team captain Vincent Kompany.
But while he has assured Lescott that he will be given the opportunity tosafeguard his international prospects, the player has yet to be offered newterms to extend his contract beyond the remaining 12 months of his currentdeal.
Gareth Barry remains in a similar position, with just a year to run on hiscontract, but while Pellegrini is happy to retain the England midfielder asa member of his squad, the former Aston Villa captain has been told that theclub will not stand in his way should they receive a suitable offer for the32-year-old.
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