Everton are close to agreeing a two-year deal for former Chelsea striker Samuel Eto'o

Everton are close to agreeing a two-year deal for striker Samuel Eto'o after he was released by Chelsea at the end of last season.

Liverpool had been interested in the 33-year-old Cameroon international.

But the completion of their £16m move for Mario Balotelli left the way clear for Everton to hold talks with Eto'o.

Talks are ongoing but Everton could sign Eto'o in time for him to be in line for a debut against his old side at Goodison on Saturday.

Everton have already signed Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea for £28m this summer and taken Christian Atsu on loan from the west London outfit.

Eto'o's contract with Chelsea expired at the start of July and he was not offered fresh terms by Blues boss Jose Mourinho.

The four-time African Footballer of the Year scored 12 goals in his 35 appearances after signing a one-year deal from Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala last August.

Eto'o started his career at Real Madrid but made his name at their arch-rivals Barcelona.

During his time at the Nou Camp, he won the Champions League twice - in 2006 and 2009 - scoring in both finals, as well as winning the Spanish league three times.

Eto'o moved to Inter Milan in 2009 as part of Zlatan Ibrahimovic's move to Barcelona and the Cameroon international went on to win the Champions League again in his first season under Mourinho at the San Siro.