RAFAEL BENITEZ has again been linked with a summer move for controversial Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o.
Television reports in Spain yesterday suggested the Liverpool manager is lining up a swoop for the Cameroon international at the end of the season.
Premiership rivals Chelsea and Arsenal also said to be tracking the 25-year-old, who has been tipped to depart the Nou Camp after a series of disagreements with Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard.
Benitez is a known admirer of Eto’o, who worked under the Spaniard when he was in charge of the Real Madrid academy, and is poised to shake-up his striking resources in the transfer window bolstered by backing from Liverpool’s new owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks.
The Liverpool manager attempted to sign Eto’o as part of the deal that took Michael Owen to the Bernabeu in August 2004, only for the player to choose a move to Barcelona instead.
Eto’o has recently been at the centre of controversy at the Nou Camp over his return to fitness following four months out with a serious knee injury, and missed Barcelona’s 2-1 Champions League defeat to Liverpool last week.
However, he started and scored in the 3-0 La Liga win over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, although he has been rested for Barcelona’s Copa del Rey meeting with Real Zaragoza this evening.
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