Everton and Arsenal to battle for World Cup striker
Published:
Cameroon star Samuel Eto’o has put Everton and Arsenal on red alert after hinting that he is keen on remaining in the Premier League.
The 33-year-old is a free agent after ending his short spell with Chelsea and was expected to return to the continent to play out his career but has now indicated he is willing to remain in the English top flight.
A host of clubs have shown an interest in signing the former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan ace, with Eto’o himself insisting he has had offers from Italy, Spain, France, Turkey, America and now England.
The news will please Roberto Martinez and Arsene Wenger, with both managers on the lookout for low-cost striking options.
It is the Toffees though who could steal a march on the Gunners, with the Goodison Park outfit able to offer Eto’o first team football on a more regular basis then their London rivals.
After selling Nikica Jelavic to Hull, Everton currently have just two recognised forwards at their disposal in Steven Naismith and Arouna Kone.
The Toffees appear unlikely to hold on to Romelu Lukaku – on either a temporary or permanent deal – and with well-documented financial constraints impeding Martinez’s transfer movements Eto’o could well represent good value for money.
Eto’o, who hit 12 goals in 34 appearances for the Blues, may command high wages but is available on a free and could prove invaluable to a squad that scored the second lowest amount of goals in the top seven last year – below even Manchester United.
Everton are 11/10 favourites to get their Premier League campaign off to a flying start against newly-promoted Leicester but a distant 125/1 to land the title.
This lack of silverware credentials looks to be the only stumbling block over a move to Merseyside but with Arsenal a much shorter 8/1 to land the title and Eto’o already settled in London, Wenger could land his man yet.
With Olivier Giroud, Lukas Podolski, Joel Campbell, Theo Walcott, Serge Gnabry and Yaya Sanogo among those vying for attacking opportunities at the Emirates though Eto’o could take some convincing.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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