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Roberto Martinez is convinced that Manchester United’s summer pursuit of Leighton Baines has ended.

The Everton boss insists that the £12m which the Red Devils tabled for the England defender in June was a “final offer”, and there has been no further interest from Old Trafford since that inquiry was firmly rejected.

Speculation has gathered in recent weeks that David Moyes will return with increased bids for Baines, who is expected to feature tonight as Roy Hodgson’s Three Lions side face Scotland at Wembley, and midfielder Marouane Fellaini.

But the Toffees manager reckons that initial approach for his left-back, which came shortly after he had taken charge at Goodison following Moyes’ departure for United, was the end of the matter.

He said: “Before we went to Austria one club officially contacted ourselves with an offer and it was a final offer.

“They put something over and the valuation wasn’t anywhere near the quality of Leighton Baines. That was the end of it but since then there’s been all the speculation, which has been part of what the transfer window is.

“There’s never been another club or anyone else putting in an offer for Leighton. Since then we’ve moved on and we’re continuing to focus on the start of the season.”

In pictures: Everton FC's Leighton Baines

Martinez knows that the media speculation has been fuelled by the fact that the man he succeeded on Merseyside is now in charge at the reigning champions.

And he feels the increasing number of transfer stories surrounding high-profile Premier League players at top clubs this summer is a sign of the times.

“It’s anyone who performs well – Marouane Fellaini had a terrific season, so did Leighton,” he said. “At the same time so did Phil Jagielka and Tim Howard.

“Then when you’ve got an ex-manager who has first-hand information of that you’re going to get that speculation in the media, but the reality is that there has been nothing apart from the contact really early in the season.

“It’s not just at Everton. At every club, every good performer is going to get linked with a move. That’s part of the modern game. Ten or 15 years ago you didn’t see players wanting to leave Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool.

“You’re talking every top club in European football, even Real Madrid. It’s just the times we’re in when players are quite happy to move around, quite happy to look for the next challenge.

“Maybe it’s the high pressure of the game and it puts them in a position where a new challenge is helpful. I don’t know.

“We’re living in a different football world than we’re used to.”