Chelsea Transfer News: Samuel Eto'o Is Wayne Rooney Alternative?

By Joseph Dempsey /

Express. The Blues are still confident about landing Rooney, who missed Manchester United's Community Shield win over Wigan Athletic and has been training with the reserves. And the London side are thought to be preparing a third bid for the 27-year-old having been knocked back twice already, and are hoping an offer of £28 million will loosen the champion's resolve to hang on to the striker. But manager Jose Mourinho does have back up plans, despite claiming Rooney is his only target this summer. Reports claim the "Special One" has made enquiries into former Barcelona marksman Eto'o - now playing for Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala - as a bargain £5 million alternative. Mourinho has a long-standing interest in the Cameroon international and tried to sign him during his first stint as Chelsea boss, while the two also worked together at Inter Milan. Makhachkala have made the 32-year-old available this summer after being hit by a financial crisis that has forced them to cut their budget in half and put the player up for sale. Inter Milan and Napoli are interested in handing Eto'o a return to Italy, however, and may give Chelsea competition.

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