City had opened tentative discussions with Inter over a possible swap involving Carlos Tevez and Eto’o last month but that was abandoned as figures, including the wage demands of the Cameroon striker, got too high.
However the latest step in the long-running saga involves a US$28,9m transfer fee which is completely independent of Tevez, and Eto’o is keen to talk.The two-time Champions League winner hopes to secure one final big contract before his stock begins to drop as he gets older, and was unimpressed when he held discussions with Inter president Massimo Moratti about improving his current deal. He wants a further two years with a salary to match City’s offer.
The Eastlands outfit are wary having been in a similar position before when Eto’o left Barcelona, but have been assured he is more serious about the move this time.
Eto’o scored 21 goals in Serie A last season for a struggling Inter outfit and having won all that there is to in Spain and Italy, he would welcome a new challenge.
Last month, he said: “It is true that I have a few offers, I have a month off now to evaluate all of them and decide what to do. I’m 30, I’m close to my final big contract and we’ll have to see whether I should stay or go.
“My eventual departure is not to try to earn 100 000 (US$142 645) or 200 000 euros (US$285 290) more. What matters in my career is being happy in a city, playing for a big club where I can enjoy myself.”
The transfers will be the first major piece of business for the club following the announcement they were set for a US$642,4m windfall from selling the naming rights to their stadium and extending a shirt sponsorship deal with Etihad.
Meanwhile City’s pursuit of Aguero appears more difficult. The club have so far rejected talk they are in for the Argentine, who is also wanted by Real Madrid.
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Yet after it emerged Juventus had offered Atletico Madrid US$52,1m for Diego Maradona’s son-in-law, the Spanish club claimed City had already bid US$7,2m more. That in turn has forced Juventus to look elsewhere for attacking reinforcements and they are now expected to challenge Tottenham for the signature of Villarreal’s Giuseppe Rossi.
Aguero is seen as a natural replacement for Tevez although City still want US$80m for their Argentinian talisman.— Dailymail
