David Prentice comment: Martinez gambling on Eto'o's appetite and enduring fitness
Chelsea's Samuel Eto'o and Everton's Gareth Barry
Roberto Martinez rued his lack of a goal poacher last Saturday tea-time.
But 72 hours ago it was unlikely that that goal poacher was going to be Samuel Eto'o.
In the aftermath of a match in which Martinez confirmed a third Everton FC goal would have had people repeating last April's eulogies of another Arsenal demoliton, the Blues boss suggested the Cameroon star was low on his list of striking reinforcements.
Asked about reports linking the Blues with Manchester United's Danny Welbeck and the Cameroon legend, he replied: “There's a lot of money involved in those two.
“At the moment, if I'm honest with you, we're looking at other options.
“I'm looking at making sure everybody is fully fit.
“If the window is open I will look at anybody who could help us but it depends on how the injured players react.
“Bryan Oviedo and Arouna Kone will have a big say on how we're going to end up after the window and I'm keeping a bit of an open mind.”
Either Arouna Kone tore up the training ground today, or Eto'o's representatives had a change of heart regarding the 33-year-old free agent's personal terms.
Because Eto'o was due to undergo a medical tomorrow ahead of a two-year move to Goodison.
Everton clearly need greater depth in the striking positions.
Kone has yet to prove his fitness after a calamitous knee injury, Steven Naismith and Kevin Mirallas are admirable, but auxiliary strikers, leaving only Romelu Lukaku to shoulder the striking burden in a season which will have the added demands of Europa League football.
Eto'o is not the striker he once was in a career which saw him grace Barcelona and Inter Milan.
But he still pilfered nine league goals in 16 Premier League starts last season for Chelsea, and five substitute appearances. He added a further three in nine European matches.
His country's all-time leading scorer, Eto'o has appeared in four World Cups for Cameroon, debuting in 1998 at the age of 17.
He won an Olympic gold medal in 2000, his clubs have won the UEFA Champions League three times and the FIFA Club World Cup once, along with taking four domestic league championships.
He has been one of Europe's A-List forwards.
But Martinez is clearly gambling on his appetite and his enduring fitness in the closing stages of his career.
Eyebrows were raised last season when Gareth Barry was enlisted at the tail end of an outstanding career.
That has proved a resounding success.
Martinez will be hoping his latest thirty-something acquisition can prove just as successful.
Source: David Prentice Echo
