Liverpool: Everton are close to signing Samuel Eto’o on a two-year deal after stepping up their pursuit of the Cameroon striker. Roberto Martinez hoped to complete negotiations on Tuesday, although the move for the 33-year-old makes it less likely he will add the Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck to the ranks before the end of the month.
The Everton manager has been desperate to add more firepower to his squad, eager to ensure that he does not have to overburden Romelu Lukaku given the additional demands on the Merseyside club at home and in Europe.
Everton are also in the Europa League this season. Eto’o thought that he was heading to Liverpool at one stage, but Brendan Rodgers switched his attentions to Mario Balotelli, enabling Martinez to step in.
The forward will arrive at Goodison with plenty of pedigree, having won multiple titles and the Champions League in a glittering career. He spent last season at Chelsea, where despite criticism from Jose Mourinho, the manager, he scored nine league goals.
The physical demands of playing up front for Chelsea are somewhat different to Martinez’s favoured system, and the Spanish coach will be confident that Eto’o’s experience and nous will be invaluable, not least in nurturing Lukaku.
If he signs he could make his debut against his former employers at Goodison Park on Saturday. Previously, it seemed that Eto’o’s wages would be an issue. However, he can expect to be one of Everton’s top earner commanding around £70,000 (Dh426,189) a week.
Ajax were also keen to recruit the former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker, but it was clear that the African’s preference was to return to the Premier League. Derby day on Merseyside will now carry a certain intrigue as Everton benefit from their neighbours pulling out of a deal.
Eto’o was preparing for a medical with Liverpool medical staff dispatched overseas to meet him last Friday in the event of negotiations with Balotelli breaking down.
As Balotelli appeared increasingly a done deal, Everton moved swiftly to ensure Eto’o will again be wearing a blue shirt this season.
The outlay on Eto’o may make a move for Welbeck, told he is not wanted by Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford, tricky. Martinez was pursuing a loan deal for the England striker. Everton have already taken two players from Stamford Bridge this summer, buying Romelu Lukaku for a club-record £28 million this summer and signing Christian Atsu, the winger, on loan for the season.
