Manchester United Reportedly Dealt Leighton Baines Transfer Blow by Everton

Manchester United boss David Moyes will only land Leighton Baines if he decides to spend £20 million on the Everton defender, according to local reports.

Peter Spencer of the Manchester Evening News suggests the Old Trafford manager must commit if he is to land the 28-year-old star:

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Manchester United manager David Moyes will have to break the £20m barrier to force Everton to consider selling Leighton Baines.

The question for Moyes is whether he considers paying £20m plus for a 28-year-old - who turns 29 next month - value for money, although his form for Everton continues to impress and he's a certainty to go the World Cup with England in Brazil next summer.

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Moyes has made no qualms about his interest in Baines since leaving Goodison Park and launched an ill-fated double bid to land the defender alongside Marouane Fellaini back in August, reported by Phil McNulty of BBC Sport.

While Fellaini eventually headed to Manchester for the extortionate price of £27.5 million, Roberto Martinez managed to keep hold of Baines, who is arguably the club's most important player.

United's relationship with Everton has soured in recent times, the aforementioned dual bid emerging as a major source of frustration for both sides.

In light of this, the Toffees are likely to grab as much cash as possible from their former leader, who doesn't appear deterred when hunting his old players.

While David McDonnell of the Mirror believes £16 million will land Baines, United could be forced to pay even more for a player whose age is heading toward the 30 mark.

Although spending extravagantly on experienced stars has worked well for the Premier League champions—Robin van Persie has more than repaid his £24 million fee already—dropping such a significant amount on an ageing left-back doesn't represent particularly inspired business from Moyes.

United have also been linked with Southampton's Luke Shaw, reported by Ben Jefferson of the Express and could snap up Real Madrid's Fabio Coentrao, per John Edwards of the Daily Mail. At 18 and 25 years of age, respectively, they certainly represent a better long-term investment than the Everton man.

The Premier League champions need cover for Patrice Evra, who will be 33 by the end of the season, as Alexander Buttner and Fabio are yet to suggest they are capable of filling a looming void in the United defence.

Replacing Evra with Baines may be the easiest option, but at the reported £20 million figure, United can source fresher, more durable talent from elsewhere.

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