Samuel Eto'o Rumours: Latest Speculation Surrounding Former Chelsea Star

Updates from Tuesday, Aug. 26

Everton hope to seal a deal for Samuel Eto'o on Wednesday, according to the Daily Mail's Simon Jones.

Following Liverpool's capture of Mario Balotelli, the route is clear for Everton to snap up the former Chelsea striker. Jones writes:

"

The 33-year-old has reached a provisional agreement on a two-year deal after re-opening talks with Everton following the collapse of his move to their neighbours Liverpool.

Eto'o has lowered his wage demands from around £130,000 a week to fit in with Everton's proposals and is due to travel to Merseyside from his Paris home on Monday ahead of a medical in the hope of completing the deal on Wednesday.

"

Updates from Thursday, Aug. 21

Samuel Eto'o is now locked in a fight between Liverpool and Everton for his services, according to Simon Jones of the Daily Mail.

Jones reports:

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Samuel Eto'o has turned down the chance to sign for Ajax after the deadline for an agreement passed at 6pm on Wednesday night. 

The 33-year-old free agent is awaiting offers from Everton and Liverpool who maintain an interest in Monaco's Radamel Falcao. 

"

Updates from Wednesday, Aug. 20

Samuel Eto'o's future should become a little clearer on Wednesday after Ajax set the former Chelsea striker a deadline.

Liverpool, Everton and Tottenham have also been linked to the veteran, but Dutch football writer and B/R UK expert Elko Born reports:

Updates from Monday, Aug. 18

Tottenham are the latest club to be linked with the services of Liverpool and Everton target Samuel Eto'o.

Alex Harris of the Express reports:

"

Tottenham have held transfer talks with Everton and Liverpool target Samuel Eto'o.

[...] Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is hoping to sign a new striker to add firepower to his frontline. 

"

Updates from Wednesday, Aug. 13

Liverpool and Samuel Eto'o are set to resume negotiations over a potential year-long agreement, after the two parties initially fell well apart when it came to the striker's salary.

Wayne Veysey of Goal.com reports the latest:

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The Cameroon international wants a one-year contract worth a basic €170,000 a week, while the Reds have offered a lower package - but the Anfield outfit are willing to top up the 33-year-old's wages with performance-related add-ons.

Discussions between representatives of the striker and Liverpool officials took place on Tuesday and further talks are planned for Thursday as the Merseysiders seek proven back-up to Daniel Sturridge and Rickie Lambert.

"

Updates from Tuesday, Aug. 12

Samuel Eto'o has emerged as a shock summer target for Liverpool, who are desperate to provide extra striking cover for Daniel Sturridge this season.

Chris Bascombe of the Telegraph writes:

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Liverpool’s pursuit of a new striker has prompted Brendan Rodgers to consider a short-term deal for Samuel Eto’o.

[...] Ajax are in talks with the former Barcelona and Inter Milan forward, but Rodgers has a pressing need for more firepower and there have been discussions about the merits of a deal for the African.

"

The Mirror's John Cross goes one step further, reporting that Liverpool have already held talks with Eto'o camp:

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Samuel Eto'o is the shock name on Brendan Rodgers’ hit list to solve Liverpool’s striker shortage.

The former Chelsea striker, 33, and his representatives are understood to have held talks with Liverpool about a possible move to Anfield.

Liverpool boss Rodgers is now considering whether to harden up a move for Eto’o, with Ajax also keen but the Dutch club are a long way from meeting his contract demands.

"

However, the Reds may face competition from their Merseyside rivals Everton, according to beIN SPORTS' Tancredi Palmeri:

Updates from Monday, Aug. 11

Ajax believe they are close to capturing Samuel Eto'o on a free transfer, according to sporting director Marc Overmars.

Eto'o has plenty of potential suitors, but Overmars told Voetbal International, per Sky Sports:

"

Samuel seemed very hungry to play for Ajax. He is fit and has a great drive to succeed once again.

We don’t want to block the growing process of our talents like (Arkadiusz) Milik and (Richairo) Zivkovic, but if it is possible to sign a world class player like Eto'o, then why not? It will be fantastic.

"

Updates from Friday, Aug. 8

Wolfsburg have emerged as the latest potential destination for former Chelsea striker Samuel Eto'o.

Enrico Passarella of gianlucadimarzio.com reports:

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Wolfsburg are still searching for the right striker and they are thinking about signing Samuel Eto’o. They are intrigued about this option and reached out to the former Chelsea. It remains to be seen whether Eto’o is willing to accept the offer from the German club.

"

Updates from Monday, Aug. 4

Sunderland now appear to be in the driving seat for the signature of Samuel Eto'o, according to TalkSPORT's Warren Haughton.

West Ham held talks with the former Chelsea striker, but Haughton writes:

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Samuel Eto'o has turned down an offer from West Ham and is now being lined up for a shock switch to Sunderland, talkSPORT understands.

[...]

The 33-year-old's agent, Claudio Vigorelli, had been in talks with the West Ham hierarchy about a one-year deal with an option on a further year.

However, contrary to recent reports, talkSPORT have been told by sources in Italy the offer made to the ex-Barcelona star fell short of expectations.

[...]

Sam Allardyce said at the weekend he had not given up on a deal for the veteran hitman, but Gus Poyet is now ready to step in and offer Eto'o a contract.

"

Updates from Friday, Aug. 1

West Ham have moved a step closer to capturing Samuel Eto'o after talks were held with the former Chelsea striker's agent.

The Daily Mail's Sami Mokbel reports: 

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West Ham have opened talks with Samuel Eto'o over a shock move for the veteran striker.

Sportsmail understands the former Chelsea striker's agent Claudio Vigarelli held face-to-face talks with manager Sam Allardyce in London on Wednesday.

"

Updates from Monday, July 28

West Ham are the latest club linked with Samuel Eto'o, who might be the man to solve Sam Allardyce's striking problems.

The Daily Mail's Simon Jones reports:

"

Former Chelsea striker Samuel Eto'o has been offered to West Ham but the 33-year-old is understood to want £100,000 a week.

[...]

Hammers boss Sam Allardyce, who needs a replacement for the injured Andy Carroll, has an interest in Arsenal's Joel Campbell but so do AC Milan.

"

Updates from Thursday, July 24

Samuel Eto'o has two very different options on the table, with QPR and Juventus both reportedly keen to acquire his services.

Gianluca Di Marzio claims Juventus want Eto'o to fill the gap left by Alvaro Morata's recent injury. Enrico Passarella provides the translation:

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After Morata’s injury, Juventus target Eto’o. They made an inquiry, he could be the right profile to tackle the European challenge. Juventus are thinking seriously about signing the Cameroonian striker. They offered a one-year contract, Eto’o ponders. The club is waiting for an answer in order to plan the future.

"

However, the Mirror's John Cross suggests QPR may be in the driving seat as Eto'o's representatives head for the capital:

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The 34-year-old's agent, Claudio Vigorelli, is flying to London to try to thrash ‎out an agreement.

[...]

Wages could be a stumbling block though - it will be down to Eto'o to fall into line with QPR's pay structure for an agreement to happen.

The Cameroon international is keen to stay in London after his year down the road at Stamford Bridge, which ended on a sour note after Jose Mourinho questioned his age.

"

Original Text

Former Chelsea striker Samuel Eto’o has revealed that he’s spoilt for choice on his next domestic destination, having left Stamford Bridge after a season to forget.

Scoring just nine Premier League goals for the Blues, per WhoScored.com, it’s difficult to imagine teams from all four corners chasing his signature, but that’s what the man himself has said via Twitter:

Now in the winter of his career, switching to the MLS wouldn’t be the most ludicrous decision that Eto’o has ever made, and it almost seems appropriate with several other big names also heading to the States.

Kaka, David Villa and Eto’o’s former Chelsea colleague Frank Lampard have already put pen to paper in America this summer, and Eto’o would be just another star for the league to show off.

However, reports in Italy are suggesting that the 33-year-old will be heading to Turkey next season, with Galatasaray leading the chase for his signature, as per Gazzetta dello Sport (via Rhys Turrell of the Daily Star).

Turrell reports that the Turkish giants will offer Eto’o a one-year deal worth £3 million to make the switch to Istanbul, with Champions League football next term acting as the lure.

Sang Tan/Associated Press

However, with the Cameroon international’s heart leaning toward a move to the U.S., Eto’o could well be stateside in the coming months as retirement from the game looms large.

One man that doesn’t think Eto’o’s career is finished, though, is Cameroon coach Volker Finke, who said that the former Barcelona man could play a part in the 2018 World Cup, as per The Guardian:

"

I know he wants to continue two, three years maybe four, which would take him to the next World Cup. He needs maybe two or three weeks to be fully fit. Without the knee injury he is a physically fit player and he has two or three good years in him.

"

Ricardo Mazalan/Associated Press

Eto’o’s age was famously questioned by Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, but Finke seems to believe that the four-time African Footballer of the Year can still cut it at the highest level for years to come.

To do so, he’ll need to stay at the top of the European game and continue to get game time under his belt, or the 2018 tournament will be even more of a distant dream—making the switch to Galatasaray that bit more probable.

Though Eto’o failed to make an impression at Stamford Bridge, west London certainly made an impression on him, as he revealed via Twitter:

One of the game’s true legends, Eto’o will need to severely improve his form wherever he plays his football next season or retirement may be a lot closer than both he and Finke think.

He proved in rare glimpses that he’s still a striker to be feared during his time with the Blues—the hat-trick against Arsenal springs to mind—but it seems that the next club shirt that Eto’o puts on could well be his last.