Chelsea offer Crespo, Gallas for Barcelona`s Eto`o (19.05.2005)
tribalfootball.com
Chelsea are stepping up their bid to land Barcelona ace Samuel Eto`o - by including two players in their mega bid.
The Cameroon international is Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho`s big summer target and is rated at £30 million-plus by Barca president Joan Laporta.
To smooth negotiations, Chelsea are willing to offer £16 million cash, plus defender William Gallas and on-loan AC Milan striker Hernan Crespo in exchange for Eto`o.
Laporta paid Real
Mallorca £16 million 12 months ago for Eto`o and the opportunity to sell at such a big profit will prove tempting for the Barca.
Both Crespo and Gallas have been on the shopping list of Barca coach Frank Rijkaard, who hasn`t always seen eye-to-eye with Eto`o this season.
According to AS, the Chelsea pair have told close friends they`re excited about moving to Barca. But the stumbling block could be their wages, with their present Chelsea salaries far too rich to fit under Laporta`s strict wage cap.
