{{Chelsea will sign Samuel Eto\u2019o on a stunning \u00a37million one-year deal on Thursday after admitting defeat in their pursuit of Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney.}}<\/p>\n
Eto\u2019o, the 32-year-old Cameroon forward, is taking a huge pay cut from the \u00a317m a year that made him the world\u2019s best paid footballer at Anzhi Makhachkala and will sign on a free transfer.<\/p>\n
However, Anzhi are understood to have sweetened the deal by giving Eto\u2019o a multi-million-pound lump sum to get him off their wage bill.<\/p>\n
Eto\u2019o arrived at London\u2019s St Pancras station on Wednesday night, where he was pictured with super-agent Pini Zahavi, and is due to have a medical at Chelsea\u2019s Cobham training ground before finalising terms after his advisers held talks on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho, a confirmed Eto\u2019o admirer, turned to his Plan B after United steadfastly refused to sell Rooney.<\/p>\n
Indeed, the England striker\u2019s immediate future at Old Trafford looks assured after he took to his Facebook page to voice appreciation of the support he received from United fans during his outstanding performance in Monday night\u2019s goalless draw between the sides.<\/p>\n
Rooney posted: \u201cIt was an unbelievable reaction from the fans, so thank you. I really appreciate your support. It means a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mourinho may try again for Rooney later in the season, but for now he is content with Eto\u2019o, about whom he once said: \u201cAny coach would be stupid not to want to have a striker like him.\u201d<\/p>\n
There is a kinship between the Chelsea coach and his new signing.<\/p>\n
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