Looks like I'm on my own here then, because although Ned is a promising young player, he's nowhere near the finished article, and has had more than his fair share of injuries. Lescott is probably next in line after Terry & Ferdinand, to be one of England's centre backs. He's done all his learning at Everton, and is looking more and more comfortable in the Premier League, and at international level. Everton won't sell Lescott without having a quality replacement, and if selling Ned is what it costs to get this deal done, then in my opinion, it's a price worth paying.