The Fans Football Blog3

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona has made the first steps to extend the contract of Barcelona forward and Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o (27).

Because of the delicateness of the operation after Barcelona wanted Eto'o to leave at the start of this season, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has taken charge of the renewal. Over the last weeks, Laporta has been trying to restore the relationships with the player and his entourage. The positive contacts by telephone have lead to a first working lunch.

Eto'o would be ready to turn the page and is totally involved in the new project and Laporta has agreed that Barcelona will make a serious effort. While the player nevertheless isn't in a hurry to close a new deal, the club has the intention to renew the contract of the striker before the end of the season.

A deal seems to be possible, but it cannot be predicted when an agreement could be reached. There will be new meetings scheduled in the coming weeks and months. To avoid additional pressure, both parties have agreed to not make public statements on the negotiations.

Other clubs are meanwhile looking to sign Eto'o, whose current contract with Barcelona expires in the summer of 2010. While Inter Milan manager José Mourinho has urged his club to at least give the transfer of the Cameroonian a try, Manchester City would already have made the first steps.

An intermediary of the English Premier League club would already have contacted both Barcelona and Eto'o. Manchester City would be preparing a 60 million euro° bid for Eto'o, who will be offered a year salary of 15 million euro. The concrete offer could be made in the coming weeks.

Read more:
Messi and Eto'o on Manchester City wish list
Eto'o: "I have no intention of leaving"
Inter and Juventus ready to join race for Eto'o