Manchester City are convinced they're set to land Barcelona star Samuel Eto'o. The Times says Eto'o is understood to have been told that he will stand to receive at least as much as the £160,000 a week paid to Robinho, the highest paid player in the Barclays Premier League. City have indicated to Barcelona that they will pay up to £25 million for the striker, whose contract expires at the end of next season.

José María Mesalles, the representative of Eto'o, held talks with Txiki Begiristain, the Barcelona sporting director, yesterday and confirmed that a transfer remains an option.

"We want to stay at Barça but if someone crazy was to pay his buy-out clause, the player would be the winner," Mesalles said. "If you earn five and they offer you 15, the player is not crazy. We're happy with the club and we have a good relationship but we're not ruling anything out."