Barcelona have accepted that Samuel Eto'o could be playing in Serie A next season after both Inter and AC Milan have made their intention to sign him known.

The Cameroonian striker was expected to stay at Camp Nou earlier in the summer after stating that he did not want to leave, but the club have advised him that they could accept a bid.

Milan have already signed Gianluca Zambrotta from the Blaugrana and have held lengthy negotiations about Ronaldinho, so the channels of communication are good.

Instead of wanting the Brazilian now, however, the Rossoneri have set their sights on Eto'o with coach Carlos Ancelotti keen to add a powerful striker to his squad after the sale of Alberto Gilardino.

Didier Drogba has been linked with Milan, but according to reliable sources Eto'o is the preferred option, even if he costs more in transfer fees and basic wages.

While Laporta has initially stated that the striker, that he signed for the club in his second season at the helm, would cost €50m, that may have been a ploy to ward off the red and black half of the Italian city.

Inter have something that Barça are reported to want in the shape of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and a swap deal involving the players could see some movement.

New coach José Mounrinho is widely tipped to want to approach Chelsea for Didier Drogba, but he has also been tipped to want Eto'o and Deco from the club where he once worked as a translator.

The Italian club's transfer consultant, Marco Branca, does not think that Mourinho will want to make major changes and stated that despite the club's desire to add to their goalscoring option, he sees no need.

“Mourinho has not asked for any strikers,” said Branca. “There will only be a few players coming in because we already have a great side. 

“He has not asked us for any major signings and so it will be perhaps just two or three players. 

Ibrahimovic, Christian Chivu and Mario Balotelli are also set to stay, according to Branca, who believes that the new coach wants to hold on to the highly-rated trio for next season.

“If any one asks for these three players then we will tell them that they are not for sale,” he added.

Lucas Brown, Goal.com