Vieira set for sensational return to Arsenal?: Real agree Alonso fee

Everton have rejected a second bid from Manchester City for Joleon Lescott.

The Goodison Park side confirmed City had upped the offer they made for the 27-year-old England defender last week from £15m to £18m.

"We have received an offer of £18m for Joleon and that offer has been rejected outright," read a statement on the Everton website. Earlier this summer, Everton boss David Moyes said no player would leave the club without his approval.

The news of the offer was relayed to Moyes in Salt Lake City, where he was preparing his side for their friendly with the Major League Soccer All-Stars side, a game that Everton won 4-3 on penalties after the teams were level at 1-1 after normal time. Cities have signed Roque Santa Cruz, Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor and are top heavy in attack, despite adding defender Kolo Toure to their squad. They recently failed with a bid to sign Chelsea centre- back John Terry. City had a £30m offer rejected recently by the Blues and Terry pledged his future to the London club last week.

It had been suggested that Everton would have been prepared to do business if City defender Nedum Onuoha was part of a new deal.

PAT ON THE BACK ... Wenger wants Vieira

However, Onuoha signed a new five-year deal at Eastlands on Wednesday.

Lescott joined Everton for £5m from Wolves in 2006 and has been an integral part of Moyes' successful side, which finished fifth last season. Moyes will also be reluctant to weaken his squad further in central defense, with Lescott's fellow England international Phil Jagielka not expected to return until November after knee surgery.

Liverpool has confirmed they have agreed a fee with Real Madrid for the sale of Xabi Alonso. Spain international Alonso has been a long-term target of the Primera Division giants but Reds manager Rafa Benitez has been reluctant to Part Company with the midfielder.

However, real appear poised to finally get their man after striking a deal with Liverpool, believed to be in the region of £30million.

Alonso is now set for a medical at Real, while Liverpool has confirmed "the terms of the deal will remain confidential and undisclosed". The 27-year-old Alonso signed at Anfield from Real Sociedad in 2004 and has made 143 Premier League appearances for the side.

Real have embarked on an ambitious recruitment project this summer and they have already signed the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka from Manchester United and AC Milan respectively.

Los Blanco’s have yet to bolster their central midfield and see Alonso as the ideal candidate to help complement the club's current squad.