Why Premier League Defender Could Ruin England Career With Move Abroad

Manchester City centre-half, Joleon Lescott, 31, has today been linked with a summer move to Turkish side, Besiktas. The former Everton man is out of contract in the summer and has struggled to cement a place in City's starting line up since Mauel Pellegrini's arrival at the Etihad. But would a move out of the Premier League end his international career?

Lescott has been left out of Roy Hodgson's 30 man squad to play Denmark this week, but if he has any chance of returning to the England set up, he has to stay in the Premier League I think. The Turkish League is not widely regarded as a top European League and with Besiktas eight points off the pace at the top of the division and without Champions League football, the financial incentives could be a key factor in persuading Lescott into a move. The Istanbul-based club are rumoured to be offering £100,000 a week to secure his services. 

Lescott is a solid defender, probably not up to the high standards set by Man City, but he would do a more than a decent job for many Premier League teams. Moving to an eastern European country would make it difficult for Roy Hodgson to see Lescott play, therefore significantly reducing his chances of an England recall. There will be definite interest in the summer for Lescott, but I think a move to Newcastle, or even a return to Everton would be a far superior option and there is a greater chance to play regular football at those clubs. 

A transfer to Turkey would all but end Lescott's international career, as at 31 years of age, he only has one, possibly two, World Cups left to play in and more youthful centre-halves playing in England would take priority, and rightly so.

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