City make ‘stratospheric’ offer to Barca star Eto’o

MANCHESTER CITY have made a staggering offer to Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o which would make the Cameroon international the highest-paid player in Britain.

The Barclays Premier League club are believed to have made a £25 million (€29.3m) bid to the European champions and have already been in contact with Eto’o, who is keen to move to Eastlands.

The deal would see him become one of the best-paid players in the world, second perhaps only to Cristiano Ronaldo.

Barca president Joan Laporta revealed yesterday that he believes the temptation of a mega salary would prove too much for Eto’o.

“Eto’o has a stratospheric offer from City, which would convert him into the best paid player in the world,” Laporta said. “It’s starting to become clear that he has this monster offer. He wants to stay but an offer like this is very difficult to refuse. If Eto’o accepts this stratospheric offer we will have to bring in someone.”

Eto’o contributed 36 goals last season as Barca claimed an unprecedented Primera Division, Copa del Rey and Champions League treble.

Speculation has been rife about where the 28-year-old will be next season as, with his contract set to expire next summer, Barca were eager to either tie him to a new deal or cash in on the striker.

Meanwhile Real Madrid have offered €32m for Lyon striker Karim Benzema according to Spanish sports daily paper Marca.

Marca said the French club have yet to respond to Real’s offer but last week Bernard Lacombe, adviser to Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas, told Marca that ‘‘nothing is impossible and if we receive a good offer we will not close the door to anyone’’.

Lyon’s director of communication Olivier Blanc said merely that “the only news is Real Madrid contacted Olympique Lyon a few days ago to discuss Karim Benzema”.

“Benzema and Olympique Lyon confirmed his initial desire is to stay another year with Lyon,’’ Blanc said, adding that was also the club’s preference.

Manchester United are also admirers of Benzema while Arsenal would also be keen if AC Milan target Emmanuel Adebayor leaves the Emirates but Real have decided to swoop now given the reluctance of Valencia’s new chairman Manuel Llorente to sell them Spain striker David Villa.

As well as a cash deal, media reports in Spain say Real and Lyon could look at a part-exchange in the shape of either Real’s Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar or winger Arjen Robben.