Samuel Eto’o has ruled out a move to Chelsea by pledging his future to Anzhi Makhachkala, the Metro understands.
The Cameroon international linked with the switch to Stamford Bridge, where he would have been reunited with former boss Jose Mourinho, who he worked with to great success at Inter Milan during the 2009/10 season.
The Blues boss had reportedly lined up Eto’o as an alternative option to Wayne Rooney, who looks set to stay at Manchester United.
Nevertheless, the club are expected to line up a final, £40m move for the England international which, should that fail, would see Mourinho revive his interest in Borussia Dortmund forward Robert Lewandowski, according to the Mirror.
The Polish international is in the final year of his contract at the Westfalenstadion, and is expected to move to Bayern Munich on a free transfer next summer though £40m is likely to be enough to persuade last season’s Bundesliga and Champions League runners up sell.
Meanwhile, Colombian striker Radamel Falcao, who has also been linked with Chelsea, has denied that he is about to quit Monaco according to the Express.
The 27 year old only moved to the Ligue 1 side three months ago, but was rumoured to be looking for a way out of his contract after proposals in Francois Hollande’s government to make footballers pay the top rate of tax.