Manchester City bid 25 million for Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o
Samuel Eto'o's anticipated arrival at Manchester City moves closer with reports of £25 million offer for Barcelona striker.
29 Jun 2009 - 13:33:08
The news comes 24 hours after Barcelona admitted that City had made a "stratospheric" offer for the 28-year-old Cameroonian international.
Eto'o is about to enter the final year of his contract at Barcelona, but the lure of City's millions – he is understood to be offered wages of nearly £200,000 a week after tax – will be too much for either the Spaniards or the player to reject.
The fact that Eto'o could leave Nou Camp for nothing in 12 months' time means that Barcelona are sure to accept such an offer.
Jose Maria Mesalles, Eto'o's agent, is set to hold a press conference tomorrow in an attempt to clarify the player's future.
The news confirms further City's determination to push neighbours Manchester United for the Premier League title.
Mark Hughes, the City manager, has already spent around £30m, with Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry arriving for £12m, followed by long-term target Roque Santa Cruz moving for £18m, from Blackburn.
It is understood that Eto'o has verbally agreed to the move that will make him almost certainly the highest-paid player in 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, who currently earns £128,000 a week, for some time and believe he could prove to the marquee signing that will help attract other big-name players. A four-year deal has been discussed.
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. If Eto'o accepts this stratospheric offer we will have to bring in someone else."
