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December 2012 Everton are ready to take England defender Joleon Lescott back to Goodison Park.

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has lost faith in centre-back Lescott, who cost the club a staggering £24million three years ago under his predecessor Mark Hughes.

And that news will spark a January transfer scramble which could allow Everton to snap up TWO top French stars.

Mancini will attempt to bring in a centre-half in January, with his long shopping list including names such as Paris Saint-Germain's French international Mamadou Sakho and summer-window targets Daniel Agger of Liverpool and Newcastle's Fabricio Coloccini.

Toffees boss David Moyes has made no secret of his desire to bring 30-year-old Lescott back to the club, and admitted recently he would be interested in a loan deal in the window if the player became available.

The stumbling block would, obviously, be money - not only that £24m fee but also Lescott's City salary of around £90,000 a week.

The champions would be happy to get a fringe player on such a large wage off the books, but would have to pay part of his salary to facilitate a move to Everton and, ultimately, take a massive loss on the deal, which would prove an embarrassment following the acrimonious way they got their man in 2009.

Lescott though, would be an ideal capture for Moyes, who is desperate to strengthen his squad as he looks to make a concerted push for a Champions League place.

The manager believes Everton now have a very real chance of a top four place, especially if they can bring in a couple of new faces to give the squad fresh impetus.

Moyes wants to keep hold of prize asset Marouane Fellaini in January, despite interest from Chelsea and Manchester United, but would be willing to sell defender John Heitinga in a bid to raise funds - and signing Lescott on loan could allow that to happen.

Heitinga has been targeted by Galatasary, who could pay as much as £7million for the Dutch international and Moyes has already identified a use for the money - TWO French international strikers.

The Mirror understands Moyes has been involved in extensive talks over a deal to bring in striker Kevin Gameiro from Paris Saint-Germain and has also offered around £5million for Toulouse and former France U21 forward Wissam Ben Yedder.


Everton scouts have watched the pair regularly in recent months, and talks are already at an advanced stage with their respective clubs.

Gameiro, 25, has been capped eight times by France, but has fallen out of favour at PSG following the summer signing of Swedish superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Coach Carlo Ancellotti will allow him to move on if the club can recoup the £7million they paid Lorient for his services 18 months ago.

Ben Yedder, 22, is top scorer at Toulouse this season with nine goals in 16 games, and has been identified as one of the top young talents in France.

He is available for around £6m, and Moyes believes he can get both men if he raises enough from the sale of Heitinga.

City boss Mancini wants a ball-playing centre-half, and that need was heightened when skipper Vincent Kompany limped out of the derby - highlighting what he sees as a lack of cover.

Agger is still a target, but the fee remains a stumbling block, with Liverpool adamant they would accept no less than £25million for the Danish star.