Rovers hope for Santa Cruz deal
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Mark Hughes is hoping Roque Santa Cruz will become a Blackburn Rovers player over the weekend.
Santa Cruz is discussing a move to Ewood Park after becoming surplus to Bayern Munich's requirements this season.
Bayern have confirmed Porto and two English clubs - the other is believed to be Manchester City - are interested in the Paraguayan striker.
Blackburn appear to have put up the most persuasive argument, with Hughes optimistic that Santa Cruz will join the club.
"We are very hopeful something may happen in that respect," said the Rovers manager.
"Maybe in the next 24 hours a deal could be concluded if the price is right."
Santa Cruz would become Hughes' second striker signing of the summer, following the arrival of Holland Under 21 international Maceo Rigters.
With Benni McCarthy, Jason Roberts and Matt Derbyshire also challenging for a starting spot, Hughes expects Santa Cruz to provide a different dimension.
He added: "What we don't have is a real threat in the air and that is something we are looking to address.
"Santa Cruz is a young player, an international with a good reputation who is playing at a top European club." -
got so many strikers already.....give one to villa lah.....
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Blackburn Rovers have confirmed they have signed Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz from Bayern Munich.
The 25-year-old has agreed a four-year contract at Ewood Park after spending eight years with the Bundesliga club.
Rovers announced Santa Cruz has joined for 'an undisclosed fee' but reports in Germany suggest the Premier League club have paid £3.5million for his services.
Bayern have allowed Santa Cruz to leave following the summer arrivals of Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose, with coach Ottmar Hitzfeld recently confirming he was looking to sell the South American.
Blackburn boss Mark Hughes, himself a former Bayern Munich striker, has won the race.
Hughes said on Friday: 'Santa Cruz is a young player, an international with a good reputation who is playing at a top European club.
'The good thing from our point of view is that his fitness levels are fine as he has been playing in the Copa America.'
Hughes is already well-off for strikers, with Benni McCarthy, Jason Roberts, Matt Derbyshire and new recruit Maceo Rigters all vying for a first-team place.
In his eight years with Bayern, Santa Cruz has won the Champions League and five Bundesliga titles, as well as four German Cup triumphs and a World Club Cup winner's medal.
In 155 games, he scored 31 times and will bring a wealth of European experience to Rovers too, having played 51 games in the Champions League and scoring seven goals. -
can form good partnership with mccarthy
i think bayern should keep him. makaay and toni is already past 30 and klose is getting ever closer to the 30 mark. -
Rovers was lucky on him tho'.
Now i guess Rovers can finish in top 8.. -
yea hope so... think its really a great signing for rovers
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Now Rovers have McCarthy, Roberts, Derbyshire and Rigters. Add in Santa Cruz? It's very packed upfront and i think 1 will leave.
Cheers.
CK