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Staggering £45m demand reveals why Manchester United backed off signing Everton ace
ROMELU LUKAKU will cost Paris Saint-Germain or Juventus at least £45million, it has been claimed.
Everton striker Lukaku has attracted interest from a host of top European clubs over recent months.
It was thought the £28m signing from Chelsea last year wasn't going to leave Goodison Park come January.
But the Daily Mail claim the Toffees have slapped a big-money valuation on their star man - just in case he decides to jump ship.
Not that Everton will let their man go on the cheap, as their battle to retain John Stones over the summer proved.
Bosses at Goodison snubbed four bids from Chelsea for centre-back Stones - the last nearing the £40m mark - even though the player himself handed in a transfer request.
Meanwhile, Everton have received a defensive boost as Leighton Baines returns to full training.
The left-back, who has been out with an ankle injury, will play a behind-closed-doors friendly next week.
Tom Cleverley and Muhamed Besic are also almost ready to return but full-back Bryan Oviedo remains sidelined for a further three weeks.