Source: Telegraph
Manchester City make 'stratospheric' offer to Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o
But, on this occasion, it's not so much of an exaggeration with details emerging of the astonishing package that ambitious City have put together to lure the 28 year-old Cameroonian striker.
It is understood that Eto'o has verbally agreed to the move – having hoped there would be an intervention from Inter Milan who have tried and failed to sell Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Chelsea - that will make him the highest-paid player in the Premier League and, maybe, the world. City hope to make an announcement later this week.
Telegraph Sport revealed on April 28 that City had lined up a significant bid for Eto'o with Barca president Joan Laporta flying to London to hold talks with City chief executive Garry Cook. City later claimed the meeting was about developing business links between the two clubs but that was never the case as has been confirmed.
City have courted Eto'o for some time and believe he could prove to the marquee signing that will help attract other big-name players. They will pay around £25 million for Eto'o who will then earn staggering wages of £192,000 a week - after tax (which equates to £16.5 million a year once tax is included). A four-year deal has been discussed.
Eto'o is already one of the world's best remunerated players, earning £128,000 a week after tax at the Nou Camp. With one year left on his present deal, it is one of the major reasons why Barca, despite their public protestations, are quite keen for Eto'o to leave - unless he agrees to a pay cut. They want to make a move for David Villa having already bid for the Brazilian striker Keirrison and have not given up on Franck Ribery either.
On Sunday Laporta confirmed City's offer. 'Eto'o has a stratospheric offer from City, which will convert him into the best-paid player in the world,' he told the Catalan radio station, iCat FM. 'It is starting to become clear that he has a monster offer. He wants to stay but an offer like this is very difficult to refuse. It Eto'o accepts this stratospheric offer we will have to bring in someone else.'
The bid is another sign of City's intent having already spent £30 million this summer - signing Gareth Barry and Roque Santa Cruz - with an offer of £25 million plus expected to be accepted for Carlos Tevez this week. City will step up their efforts to secure possibly two central defenders - Joleon Lescott and Kolo Toure are their first choices having been rebuffed over Matthew Upson - and maybe a winger such as Arjen Robben or another creative midfielder. The purchases will see City comfortably break the £100 million mark for fees this summer.
