Lescott move could spell end for Dunne

It’s starting to look like a good football bet that Richard Dunne’s nine-year spell at Manchester City could be coming to an end after City reportedly launched a £15million bid to land Joleon Lescott.

City boss Mark Hughes has been tracking the Everton centre-back for 12 months and sees him as the ideal man to build his Eastlands team around.

Lescott has matured into a competent top flight defender and is likely to get the nod by England boss Fabio Capello to travel to next summer’s World Cup finals.

Everton are desperate to keep the former Wolves man, who cost them around £5million back in 2006, but Lescott will be offered a lucrative double-your-money contract to join Hughes’ revolution.

Ambitious City manager Hughes has already landed Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz and set his sights on Carlos Tevez, while he has strengthened his midfield with the capture of England schemer Gareth Barry.

And the arrival of  26-year-old Lescott could spell the end for Dunne, who City are keen to use as a makeweight in any potential deal.

With Micah Richards and Nedum Onuoha seen as long-term solutions for Hughes, Dunne, who has been criticised for his lack of pace, could move on.

Sunderland are believed to be in the hunt for the Republic of Ireland star, who started his career at Everton before moving to City for £3million in 2000.