Man City seal deal for Eto'o

Premier League moneybags Manchester City have splashed the cash again by signing Samuel Eto'o from Barcelona.

According to reports in this weekend's News of the World tabloid, the Cameroon international will travel to Eastlands this week to finalise personal details on a five-year deal before agreeing to a transfer thought to be in the region of £25million.

The news comes despite desperate attempts by Barcelona to keep one of their prized assets.

Eto'o's contract expires at the end of next season and with Barca keen to avoid losing one of their key players on a free transfer, it had been expected that he would move on this summer.

But after a season in which Eto'o contributed 36 goals as Barca claimed an unprecedented treble - winning the Primera Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League - club president Joan Laporta was hoping the 28-year-old would sign a new contract.

However, City's recent high profile transfer activity - which has already seen them spend some £30million on Gareth Barry and Roque Santa Cruz - has convinced Eto'o that Mark Hughes' side is well and truly on the up.

"The player could have earned similar money at Barca," a City insider told the newspaper.

"But Eto'o and his people think City could be going places and is excited by the type of players they are attracting."

According to the paper, Eto'o's move finally fell into place after Barca turned their focus on Palmeiras star Keirrison who will be loaned to Valencia in return for them allowing David Villa to sign for Pep Guardiola's team.