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This article is part of Football FanCast's Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news...

According to The Daily Mail, RB Leipzig have offered Everton £22.5m for Ademola Lookman as they look to be reunited with their loan star from the second half of the 2017/18 campaign.

What's the word, then?

Well, the Toffees sent Lookman on loan to the Bundesliga side in January 2018, and the England Under-21 international shone in Germany.

Lookman scored five goals and recorded four assists in just 11 outings for Leipzig, form which prompted them to offer £25m for his services last summer - the Toffees rejected the bid as they wanted £28m plus add-ons for the 5 foot 9 forward.

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Marco Silva revealed his intentions to keep the Charlton academy graduate around, but gave him just three Premier League starts last term - Lookman has now been put up for sale by the Merseysiders.

The one thing Everton must do if they sell him

If Everton allow Lookman to leave for Leipzig, they absolutely have to insert a buy-back clause in any potential deal.

Marcel Brands cannot allow a situation to develop where Lookman continues his excellent form from the 2017/18 season and makes the Toffees look silly for ever selling him - but more importantly, makes them lose out from a financial point of view.

You only have to take a look at how well Jadon Sancho has done over in the Bundesliga to see why it would be beneficial for Everton to put such a clause in - Manchester City are probably kicking themselves for not doing so when they sold the now £90m-rated forward for just £8m with only a sell-on clause included.

Brands absolutely has to remain in control if Lookman's stock does take off whilst he's out in Germany, and a buy-back clause for a reasonable fee is the only way to do that.

It is the one thing Everton must do if they sanction the youngster's departure.