Lescott set for controversial summer move and other red-hot gossip

(05-12-2010) Joleon Lescott has been told he can leave Manchester City in January with Liverpool a likely destination. Lescott joined City from the Reds bitter Merseyside rivals Everton in 2009 for £24m but has failed to shine at Eastlands. Elsewhere, Everton look set to miss out on Tottenham midfielder Niko Kranjcar because the club cannot afford the £3m asking price for the Croatian international; Manchester United are set to take a £34m hit on injury-plagued England midfielder Owen Hargreaves by allowing him to leave Old Trafford for free at the end of the season; Manchester United will target Benfica's Portugal left-back Fabio Coentrao if Patrice Evra joins Real Madrid in the summer; and Manchester City are preparing a sensational £45m January swoop for Tottenham winger Gareth Bale.