Liverpool line up Samuel Eto'o on one-year deal... as Mario Balotelli back-up plan

The Cameroonian veteran has already taken a medical for the Reds, but may not be needed if the Reds tie up a deal for Balotelli

Stu Forster

Plan B: Eto'o could join the Reds should Balotelli fail to arrive

Brendan Rodgers has lined up an amazing deal to sign Samuel Eto'o - in case the Mario Balotelli deal falls through.

Former Chelsea striker Eto'o, 33, underwent a medical in Paris on Friday and is hoping to fly to Liverpool this weekend to complete the move But Mirror Sport can reveal that Liverpool have taken the extraordinary step of putting Eto'o through a medical because of lingering doubts about bad boy Balotelli.

Kop boss Rodgers wants to talk face-to-face with Balotelli before completing the £16m deal and that is why Eto'o has been put on standby.

Rodgers could end up signing both strikers but it is more likely that only one will move to Anfield and the Eto'o back-up plan is a highly unusual step.

Liverpool have offered Eto'o a one-year contract and the Cameroon striker would rather move to Anfield than go to Everton, Ajax, Inter Milan and Queens Park Rangers.

Eto'o is a free agent after his contract with Chelsea expired and was keen to stay in the Premier League with a club in the Champions League. Everton boss Roberto Martinez also made an offer but Eto'o is desperate to join a club in the Champions League.

Balotelli is still Liverpool's priority but the bizarre parallel deal for Eto'o highlights there are still concerns about the ex-Manchester City striker's behaviour on and off the pitch.

Former Barcelona and Inter Milan star Eto'o is keen to stay in England to try and prove Jose Mourinho wrong after the Chelsea boss questioned his age last season.

That enraged Eto'o and is why he decided to quit Stamford Bridge rather than listen to any offers to stay at Chelsea. And Eto'o has Mourinho and Chelsea in his sights.