SPANISH radio is reporting that Chelsea have reached agreement with Real Mallorca over the transfer of Cameroon star Samuel Eto’o. Planetfootball.com revealed on Thursday that The Blues were still interested in the African star – who they first made a move for earlier this summer.
An €18 million (£12.6 million) deal is now said to be close to completion after Real supremo Mateo Alemany met with his Chelsea counterparts on Thursday.
La Cadena Radio has now reported that a deal is all but done and only needs to be inked in order to be completed.
Eto’o is currently in England on a pre-season tour, but he is believed to be currently in London and will not play for Real in their game with Fulham this weekend – to make sure he does not pick up an injury.
Alemany returned to Mallorca on Thursday, where he was awaiting the confirmation from Chelsea along with payment details.
Personal terms will not be a problem for Eto’o and he is ready to pen a five-year deal as soon as he is given the green-light by Mallorca.
The Spanish outfit have financial problems and need to sell their prized asset, who was set to join Valencia earlier this summer – but that move collapsed leaving the way open for a move to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have been strongly linked with a move for Internazionale’s Christian Vieri – but with Roman Abramovich’s billions now backing the club, it would not be unfeasible for bids to have been lodged for both.
Eto’o will not be registered for the first stage of the Champions League, if he signs, as the deadline has now passed but he could play later in the competition if Chelsea make it that far.
If the deal for the 22-year-old goes through, then Chelsea’s pre-season spending will surpass the £70 million mark.
