Everton boss David Moyes has branded Manchester City’s pursuit of Joleon Lescott “disgusting”.
City boss Mark Hughes had implied he would go above Moyes’ head, but the Scot said he would decide whether the England centre-back would leave.
“I hear City think they are talking to people who make the decisions here, well that’s me,” said Moyes.
“They way it has been handled is disgusting and all it has done is disrupted our club.”
The Toffees have turned down a transfer request from 26-year-old international Lescott and have already rejected bids of £15m and £18m for him from City.
Hughes said: “We are still trying to speak to the people who will ultimately make the decision over whether the deal continues.
“Those conversations are still to take place but how long they will still be active is open to debate.”
But Moyes said that Lescott “has had his head twisted” as a result of the attention from City but reiterated his insistence that the player will not be leaving Goodison Park.
“He should get his head around that and get on with his career,” added Moyes.
“I make the decisions, they have not talked to me and the player has been consistently told he is not for sale.”
Lescott joined Everton for £5m in June 2006 from Wolves and has developed into one of the Premier League’s most reliable defenders.
He can play at left-back as well as at the heart of the defence and his progress has also resulted in him becoming a regular in the England squad.
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