Inter rebuilding as Eto'o on the verge of Russian move

The more time that passes in the final days of the mercato the more certain it looks that Samuel Eto'o is on the verge of completing a multi million pound move to Russia. All in all this will be disappointing news for Nerazzuri followers as Samu was their best player last season, and by some distance. Having held up the Inter front line while Diego Milito spent most of the season injured and while Wesley Sneijder failed to live up to the high standards so often displayed in his first season Eto'o will be sorely missed. And, despite Zanetti and Cambiasso having come out and stated that Inter are still strong, which they of course are, one wonders whether another quiet mercato at San Siro will cost them again this season.

Let's look at the situation rationally however. Eto'o has perhaps two to three seasons left in him at the top and his sale will earn Inter a reported 100 million in savings on wages and the transfer fee itself. This, in theory at least, should allow Inter to invest some of that in replacing the great man and keeping Wesley Sneijder as well. It all sounds a beat defeatist however while other clubs round Europe splash money like their is no tomorrow. This is however something Inter have been doing for years and lets not forget that this was exactly what they did in January when signing Giampaolo Pazzini and Yugo Nagatomo. Indeed talented signings in the shape of Argentine Alvarez, who has impressed in pre-season, and highly rated Dutch youngster Luc Castaignos have arrived. The latter is regarded as a huge talent, being only 18 and having scored 15 goals in just 30 games for Feyenoord in the Dutch Eredivise last season. 

The question is whether players of this immature ilk can fill the shoes of the like of Eto'o for Inter? The obvious answer is no, not right away and while they present a bright future for the Benemata they will be reliant on a fully fit Milito and Pazzini front line to replace the goals that the Cameroon Lion gave them last year. Talk of Diego Forlan is on the horizon and while knocking on in years, in sporting terms at least, he could be the sort of player to fill the void for a year or two until the young talent at Inter are ready to come to the fore.