Eto´o option open to l´OM
Tuesday, 15 June 2004
by Patrick Haond
Marseille are reportedly lining up Samuel Eto´o as a replacement for Didier Drogba should they buckle under pressure from Chelsea.
Premiership moneybags Chelsea are keen to recruit Ivory Coast international Drogba after his excellent past season in Ligue 1.
The Blues are already purported to have bid up to €25 million ( £16.5 million) for the free-scoring hit-man.
Thus far, l´OM have staunchly rebuffed any attempts from Chelsea to prise Drogba from their vice-like grip.
But rumours in France suggest Chelsea are willing to further increase their offer for the African to a possible €35 million ( £23 million) figure.
Though Marseille insist Drogba is not for sale, that amount would seriously tempt the club´s powerbrokers into considering sanctioning the forward´s sale.
If the Stade Velodrome outfit are pressed into cashing in on Drogba, they have been tipped to turn to his fellow African Eto´o as a replacement.
The Cameroon international is also among the most coveted attackers in Europe but his club, Mallorca, have regularly adopted Marseille´s stance on Drogba in their refusal to sell.
However, the Spanish side recently hinted they are prepared to listen to offers for Eto´o and should Marseille lose Drogba, they would have the funds to launch a bid for the Cameroonian.
skysports