The Lescott saga rambles on with David Moyes coming out and giving a pretty conclusive and final statement that should get the message across once and for all and put an end to the the whole affair.

On the eve of the opening fixture with Arsenal, Moyes has again come out and reiterated his stance that Jolene Lescott will not be leaving Everton this transfer window.

Hughes has this week waffled on about Everton being stubborn in their dealings with City and pointed out that they've so far got nowhere in their pursuit of Lescott so it's about time they started to speak to the people who make the decisions at Everton.

A clearly annoyed Moyes, said:

"They said they are trying to talk to the people who make the decisions at Everton, well at this football Club I make the decisions. I have control of the football club so they know who to phone and I've not had a call, so they must be talking to the wrong people."

"We have had four weeks of ongoing dialogue and it's been through the media, it's not been directed through me and I make the decisions here. There's not been one call through me and I think the way the business has been handled has been disgusting. All it's done is disrupt our football club and make it very difficult for us."

Of Lescott, he added:

"He has been distracted, obviously," continued Moyes. "The boy's in a little bit of turmoil with the way that things of gone, but he's been consistently told by the manager that we won't be selling him.

"So he should get his head around it and get on with his job. Maybe other people are telling him different. The fans gave him great support (against Malaga) and that's what we want. They saw that the decision we were making was right, and hopefully they still see that."

Amen. After Lescott's transfer request, I couldn't see a way back for him at Everton and felt sure he would get slaughtered by our fans in the opening game if he is still here and plays. He still might, but when a strong leader like Moyes speaks out like that you have to listen to it and the situation looks a lot clearer.

He's right. Lescott does want to leave and has had his head turned. But for the good of Everton, we want him here and he won't be allowed to leave. That's the end of it. Turn the page, forget what's happened and let's get on with it because there's no way he's going anywhere. If Moyes is right and that's the way it pans out then he deserves a lot of credit. I can't think of too many occasions in recent years where so called bigger clubs have come knocking for players and waved the cheque book around but have ultimately been defeated. There is a lot to admire in his approach.

Of potential transfer targets, he said:

"We have got 13 or 14 players which I am happy with and we have some up-and-coming youngsters as well which gives us great hope," he said. "I hope maybe within the next 48 hours or so we will have a couple of new players added to the squad. If we do that then we will start to rebuild from the players we lost last season."

Steven Taylor from Newcastle is a rumoured target and he could even be having a medical on monday and sealing a move for around 6 million. As a replacement for Lescott, I wouldn't be happy, but for back-up to him, Yobo and Jagielka, that's not too bad. He seems an old fashioned center half in the same mould as Jagielka - but unlike the Everton man, he is prone to errors and seems to make plenty of them. But he's young for a center half and does have ability so if anyone can get the best out of him, it's Moyes.

Onto Arsenal. It'll be full house, evenining kick off, brilliant atmosphere and hopefully a good game. Despite the failings we've had in the transfer market, out first 11 - even without Jagielka, Arteta and Yakubu - is a strong one. We have every reason to be optimistic about the season and about our opening game with Arsenal, so enjoy it, back the team and let's get three points onboard.

Come on you blues.