Liverpool linked with Eto'o summer swoop
442 Staff - Tuesday 31 March 2009, 12:52
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is believed to be weighing up an £18 million summer bid for Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o.
The Cameroonian international - who has bagged 37 goals in 80 appearances for his country, as well as more than 100 league goals for Barca - seemed set to leave the Camp Nou last summer with new manager Pep Guardiola considering the striker surplus to requirements.
However, Eto'o decided to stay and has been in devastating form in La Liga this season, already netting 25 league goals to fire the Catalans to the top of the table.
Reds boss Benitez is thought to be keen on landing the 28-year-old front-man at the end of the season to form a formidable partnership with Fernando Torres.
And it is a move that would be made more likely should Barcelona capture David Villa from cash-strapped Valencia in the summer.
“Benitez likes Samuel a lot. Everything is possible for this summer. It will depend on Barcelona’s results as well, if they decide to buy David Villa. Eto’o is not a player to sit on the bench,” said a source close to the striker.
Liverpool will almost certainly face competition from both Inter and AC Milan for the forward, and could have to shell out in the region of £135,000 a week in wages to secure his services.
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