MLS Transfer Rumor: Samuel Eto'o Reportedly Eyed As David Beckham Replacement

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 19: Samuel Eto'o Captain of Cameroon gestures during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group E match between Cameroon and Denmark at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on June 19, 2010 in Tshwane/Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

MLS is reportedly prepared to match Samuel Eto'o's $26 million salary, but it's hard to imagine the league spending that plus nearly $50 million in transfer fees.

David Beckham's future in Major League Soccer is still not decided. But if he does, in fact, leave that would free up a significant amount of money that could be spent elsewhere. According to a Report out of the United Arab Emirates, that money could be spent on luring Samuel Eto'o to MLS. It hardly seems likely that MLS could actually retain Eto'o's services, though, as he's arguably the best striker in the world and still securely in his prime.

The story claims that MLS has already placed an transfer bid and is prepared to match Eto'o's €20 million salary. Eto'o is currently playing in Russia for FC Anzhi Makhachkala. It also says that Eto'o would almost certainly go to either the New York Red Bulls or the LA Galaxy. Even at that rather enormous sum, though, it's not clear if that would be enough to secure Eto'o's services. The Russian team reportedly made Eto'o the highest paid player in the world. Machachkala reportedly paid $38.9 million to secure his transfer for Inter Milan last August and would be unlikely to sell him for any less.

Assuming this deal could get done, though, it would be an absolute coup for MLS. Eto'o is one of the top strikers in the world and is still just 30. He has scored eight goals in 11 league games this year and is coming off a season in which he scored 37 goals across all competitions for Inter.

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