Samuel Eto'o is ready to drop his contract demands to make a move to ... Manchester United.

The News of the World says the Barcelona striker has been haggling over a move to Manchester City for nearly six weeks and has asked for £200,000 a week to quit the Nou Camp.

He also wants a £12million slice of the £25m transfer fee, which has prevented the deal from going through as the European champions stand firm.

But the Cameroon international would waive such a lump sum if Sir Alex Ferguson came in for him. Fergie could still be in for a striker - despite the capture of Michael Owen - and only a club of United's stature will prise Eto'o away from Spain.

He would accept a cut-price £150,000-a-week deal that would still make him the top earner at Old Trafford instead of the possibility of mid-table football at Eastlands.

One source close to the player said: "Samuel has not been convinced by a move to a mid-table side in the Premier League and neither will he sign a new deal at Barca."