Sampdoria Close to Deal to Sign Samuel Eto'o From Everton

Sampdoria are closing in on the signing of Everton striker Samuel Eto'o, according to reports in Italy.

The Genoa outfit, which sold top scorer Manolo Gabbiadini to Napoli earlier this month, are desperately looking to reinforce their attacking line after negotiations aimed at signing Udinese forward Luis Muriel collapsed on Thursday.

Samp met with Eto'o 's representative Claudio Vigorelli on Thursday morning and according to Italian TV station Mediaset, the Cameroon forward has agreed to join the club on a 18-month contract while he has reduced his wages by 40 percent in order to return to Serie A.

The 33-year-old only joined Everton outfit five months ago from Chelsea.

Eto'o has scored three goals in 14 league appearances this season and is under contract with the Toffees until June 2016.

The former Chelsea and Barcelona forward was an unused substitute in Everton's 1-1 draw with Manchester City on Saturday and was left out of the squad for the FA Cup third round at West Ham on Tuesday.

Eto'o spent two seasons at Inter and was a member of the Nerazurri's I2010 treble-winning side that won the Serie A title, Coppa Italia and Champions League under coach Jose Mourinho.