Manchester United are ready
to launch a bid for Barcelona
superstar Samuel Eto'o.
The Times says Sir Alex
Ferguson is eager to find a replacement for the
Portugal forward as soon as possible and has made a firm inquiry
about Eto’o. The United manager is confident of getting the
Barcelona forward and knows that he needs to bolster his roster of
strikers if Carlos Tévez leaves the club this summer.
Eto’o is one of Manchester City’s leading summer transfer
targets, but United look like beating their rivals to the Cameroon
player’s signature.
Eto’o, aged 28, had a fine season at Barcelona, scoring 34 goals
to help his team to an unprecedented Spanish league, cup and
Champions League treble. He was on target in the 2-0 victory over
United in the Champions League final in Rome last month.
He has only a year remaining on his contract, but while
Barcelona would like to keep him, they would prefer to cash in now
rather than lose him for nothing at the end of next season.
City had offered up to £25 million for Eto’o and were prepared
to make him the highest-paid player in the Premier League, but
United would hope to secure a deal for less.
It could set up the exciting prospect of the Premiership
boasting Africa's two most popular players - Eto'o and Chelsea ace
Didier Drogba - next season.
