REPORTS suggest City target Samuel Eto'o is planning to see out the remaining year of his contract with Barcelona and snub the Blues' "stratospheric" offer.

While Barca are keen to push through the bid, given he could leave for nothing next summer and will miss a month of next term at the African Nations Cup, it seems Eto'o will resist a £25million deal that could see him net £200,000-a-week.

The situation will be clarified on Tuesday when Eto'o's agent Josep Maria Mesalles holds a press conference to outline the 28-year-old's intentions.

While a decision to remain at the Nou Camp would be a disappointment for City, at least boss Mark Hughes would avoid the major headache of how to keep all his attacking players happy given Eto'o would have been joining a squad that already included Roque Santa Cruz, Robinho and Craig Bellamy and to which Carlos Tevez will be free to add his name on July 1.

Having already signed Gareth Barry, Hughes' other priority is central defence, although he might have to increase his £15million valuation on Joleon Lescott if he is to lure the Everton defender away from Goodison Park.

A £15m bid for Joleon Lescott has been made but Everton are asking for £20m, having seen Glen Johnson move to Liverpool from Portsmouth for £17m.

Lescott is keen to join the City revolution, especially as the Blues would double his wages to around £80,000, but he may have to put in a transfer request.

But it appears that even his Everton team-mates believe Lescott may be City-bound.

His central defensive partner at Goodison Park, Phil Jagielka, said: "He's a massive part of our team. We don't want him to go, and I'm sure the club don't want him to go either. But, unfortunately, the way football is at the moment, if someone is going to splash ridiculous money at you, we'll see how it goes."

What do you think? Have your say.