Hughes stays patient in bid to recruit Eto'o and Tevez

Published on Wednesday 1 July 2009 22:52

MARK Hughes is prepared to play the waiting game in an attempt to snare Samuel Eto'o and Carlos Tevez.

The Manchester City manager is refusing to give up hope of bagging Eto'o in a 25million move from Barcelona, despite the player's agent claiming yesterday the Cameroon star would prefer to remain in Catalonia.

And, for the first time, Hughes confirmed he is looking to add Tevez to his squad after the Argentine's two-year 'lease' agreement with Manchester United finally expired.

However, after completing a speedy deal for Gareth Barry at the end of last season, and a more protracted one to bring Roque Santa Cruz to Eastlands from Blackburn, Hughes is aware deals for Eto'o and Tevez are unlikely to be straightforward. "Patience has been mentioned and that is what we will need to be," said Hughes.

"We have lodged a bid for Samuel Eto'o because I have a lot of respect for him and think it will help us. Now there seems to be a situation between the player and his club. It is something which needs to be resolved by them. We are not involved in it.

"Carlos Tevez is another player I have huge admiration for. Everyone knows his situation and it could be that he is available. We will see what happens but at this stage it is very early in our discussions."

Not that Hughes is willing to let moves for either man drag on all summer. "There is always an element of frustration when you cannot conclude deals very quickly but we will give every deal the patience we feel it deserves," he said. "However, if we get to a point where we feel something is not going to happen or the situation is stalling, we will move away, as we have done in the past."