Pulis rejects £1m Lescott bid as Villa land Gestede
ASTON VILLA have approached West Bromwich for Joleon Lescott, with an offer of £1million for the former England defender understood to have been discussed.
West Brom, however, are flatly rejecting any bids for one of their key players.
Lescott, who has 12 months left on the £ 50,000- a- week contract he signed last summer after leaving Manchester City on a free transfer, is 33 on August 16.
The move comes after Albion made two bids of about £2m — both rejected — for Villa’s 25-year-old Republic of Ireland defender Ciaran Clark. Albion boss Tony Pulis is determined to add to his options at left centre back. Pulis signed James Chester from Hull for £8m this week and has Craig Dawson, Jonas Olsson and Gareth McAuley as his other options in central defence.
Blackburn’s 20-goal striker Rudy Gestede completed his transfer to Villa as boss Tim Sherwood continues the summer overhaul of his squad.
Gestede, 25, passed a medical to finalise his move on a five-year deal yesterday, after Jordan Veretout joined Villa from Nantes, also on a fiveyear contract. WEST HAM say that striker Enner Valencia suffered a ‘significant’ injury to his right knee and right ankle in the Europa League tie with Astra Giurgiu on Thursday. The Ecuador forward was starting his first game since returning from the Copa America, but was carried off before half-time. Manager Slaven Bilic said after the game he feared the injury was serious. Valencia will see a specialist early next week, after which the club will discover how much of the season he stands to miss.