Eto'o Eyes United

SAMUEL ETO'O will drop his astronomic wage demands to join Manchester United.

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."

Barcelona have offered the player a two-year extension on his current £100,000- a-week deal.

But Eto'o, 28, could play out his final year at Barcelona and be free to negotiate a lucrative swansong at the end of next season.

Barcelona will go ahead with their plans to sign David Villa this week regardless of Eto'o digging his heels in.

Coach Pep Guardiola has told sporting director Txiki Begiristain that he would have no problem having both Eto'o and Villa in the same team.

If Valencia turn down Barca's £40m offer for Villa, they will turn their attention to Diego Forlan.

The Atletico Madrid striker has a £33m buyout clause, although Barca believe they could get him for closer to £30m.