Could Samuel Eto’o be a good signing for Everton?

Cameroon legend Samuel Eto’o looks set for a move to Everton

According to Sky Sports, Everton are on the verge of signing former-Chelsea striker Samuel Eto’o on a free transfer.

The 33-year-old is reportedly close to signing a two-year deal on Merseyside, after leaving Chelsea as a free agent earlier this summer.

Eto’o could complete the move in time to be involved for the Toffees against his old club at Goodison Park next weekend.

Interested

There is believed to be a number of Premier League clubs interested in signing the four-time African Player of the Year.

Everton’s arch-rivals Liverpool was interested in signing Eto’o, prior to bringing in Italian maverick Mario Balotelli from AC Milan.

QPR were another English club showing an interest in the veteran striker. Italian giants AC Milan were also reportedly interested in signing Eto’o, as a replacement for Balotelli of course.

However it seems that it is Everton who are set to win the race for the striker and add to their firepower.

Options

The Toffees currently have a lack of attacking options. They have a very good first choice striker in Romelu Lukaku, but beyond the youngster Roberto Martinez’s attacking options are lacking. It seems like there is a lot of pressure on the young shoulders of Lukaku.

Ivory Coast striker Arouna Kone is still out injured and the Toffees are waiting in news of his injury situation. The former-Wigan player’s Toffees career has hardly started, after the striker was injured just a few months into his Everton career.

Scottish forward Steven Naismith has been playing as a second striker at times season and has scored two goals in two games, but he is not really regarded as an out-and-out striker.

Belgian winger Kevin Mirallas has also played as a central striker in his career, but again he is not really considered a striker.

Everton needed to strengthen up front and Eto’o seems to be their best current available option, with money believed to be an issue after the Toffees paid a club record fee of £28million to bring in Lukaku earlier this summer.

Back-up

Eto’o is likely to be back-up to young Lukaku. However, with the youngster currently regaining match fitness the Cameroon legend may just get quite a lot of game time in the next few weeks and months.

Useful

Eto’o is likely to earn big wages at Goodison, but one important fact will be the fact that he will not cost a transfer fee. The veteran did not have a terrible season at Chelsea in the last campaign, scoring 12 goals in 35 appearances.

The veteran striker was used in rotation with Fernando Torres and Demba Ba, so that record is not terrible, although Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was obviously not impressed and neither were the Chelsea fans.

Chelsea boss Mourinho even insulted the striker by stating that he thought he was 35 when he was 32, which Eto’o obviously did not take too kindly too.

Disappointing

Everton have kicked-off their Premier League campaign with two draws, when in both games they were just a few minutes away from claiming victories. The Toffees have a number of players returning to fitness and will no doubt challenge for a place in the top six.

Roberto Martinez’s team are currently odds of 7/1 to make it into the Champions League spots this season, with competition for the top four places seemingly stiffer than ever.

Better

Samuel Eto’o will add a lot to the Everton squad, his experience can help Romelu Lukaku in particular improve his all-round game. The veteran striker has won virtually every club honour there is in the game in his long career. The Toffees will certainly have a better chance of grabbing a top four place with a player like Eto’o in their squad than without.

Everton boss Roberto Martinez has been shrewd in the transfer market so far in his time at Goodison Park and signing the experienced Eto’o could be another masterstroke from the canny Spaniard.

Will Samuel Eto’o be a good signing for Everton?