Tabloids love 'come-and-get-me pleas'. They generate 'come-and-get-me-plea' headlines. And they're (usually) based on direct quotes from a player or their agent, rather than just making something up - not that tabloids would ever do such a thing. So this morning, just about every sports website led with former Barcelona striker and three-time Champions League winner Samuel Eto'o's 'come-and-get-me plea' directed at Jose Mourinho.
This has to be one of the less surprising 'come-and-get-me pleas' of recent times. Eto's current club Anzhi Makhachkala are undertaking widely publicised cost-cutting measures and have put their top players up for sale, including the 32-year-old Cameroonian, who Chelsea were already reportedly interested in signing. And Eto'o enjoyed his time working under Mourinho at Inter Milan, as his quotes carried in several papers remind us.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQyNTcE2Ctc
"There is only one Jose Mourinho. I have played under a lot of great coaches - but there is no other character in the game like Jose. He is one of the best coaches in the world - and we had a lot of success together at Inter Milan. I would like to have the chance to play under him again - because it is never boring when Jose is around. Of course Chelsea are a great team - and when we have all the offers on the table then I will discuss with my agent and see what my next step is."
A move for Eto'o would surely mean an end to the Wayne Rooney to Chelsea saga. And with the Gareth Bale and Luis Suarez sagas also having stalled (even if sportsdirectnews carry the 'EXCLUSIVE' that PSG have entered the race for Suarez), wouldn't it be just great if all three wound up staying at their current clubs. Except that we'd have to go through it all again next transfer window.
The Telegraph reports that Carlo Ancelotti has stated Bale is not part of his Real Madrid plans. However, Goal reports that Real are willing to sell Pepe to Manchester City to finance Bale's transfer, so we could see a repeat of the Portuguese defender's clash with John Terry from last week's Chelsea vs Real Madrid friendly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFUizz81TPg
Elsewhere, Bayern Munich midfielder Luiz Gustavo has issued a come-and-get-me plea to Arsenal, according to the Guardian, so it will be interesting to see how they can still manage not to sign him. Sevilla won't sell Manchester United target Geoffrey Kondogbia for less than his £17 million buyout clause, report the Daily Mail, though the Express reports that the French midfielder isn't for sale at all, with Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea mentioned as suitors, alongside Real Madrid. We await with bated breath to whom he addresses his 'come-and-get-me plea'.
