Manchester City refuse to give up their bid to land Everton defender Joleon Lescott.

The Times says City sources had previously insisted that £20 million was the most the club were prepared to pay for Lescott, who cost Everton £5 million when he was signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer of 2006.

However, with the start of the Barclays Premier League season three days away and with City having already failed to entice John Terry from Chelsea, Hughes is keen to establish a first-choice central defensive partnership at the earliest opportunity and the club's board is willing to sanction an offer for Lescott in the region of £22 million.

Hughes is hoping that his perseverance will pay off and that a third bid will prompt a change of heart from David Moyes.