TRANSFER NEWS:MANCHESTER CITY have been given a painful reminder that their huge financial riches may still not be enough to lure all their ambitious targets after Samuel Eto'o's representatives informed the club yesterday he had chosen not to accept their offer to become the best-paid player in the Premier League.

Eto’o wants to stay at Barcelona even though the European Cup winners have made it clear they were happy to accept what their president, Joan Laporta, described over the weekend as a “stratospheric” and “monster” €30 million bid from City.

It has become clear to Eto’o that Barcelona are looking to move him on but the Cameroon striker has misgivings about joining a club who are not even involved in the Europa League and he is willing to resist the offer of a post-tax salary of €210,000 a week.

His agent, Jose Maria Mesalles, will explain his motives at a press conference in Barcelona today, uppermost among them being that Eto’o wants to continue playing at the highest level rather than at a club who are still in an early phase of a money-driven attempt to become a major European force.

Eto’o, who scored in Barcelona’s victory over Manchester United in last season’s final, has decided he can wait until his contract expires next summer and he can leave on a free transfer.

“If there is not a 180-degree turnaround, then he will stay with Barcelona,” Mesalles confirmed.

That represents a significant setback to City’s manager Mark Hughes, who had been planning to add showpiece signing Eto’o to that of Gareth Barry and Roque Santa Cruz. City are hoping to conclude a €30 million deal for Carlos Tevez, whose two-year loan agreement at Manchester United expires tomorrow. The club are are also targeting Everton defender Joleon Lescott for a potential €18-24 million move.