Santa Set to Visit Blackburn Early

With the Craig Bellamy deal seemingly tied up with West Ham United, Blackburn Rovers have today been linked with a move for Bayern Munich`s Paraguayan striker, Roque Santa Cruz.

This is certainly a big name, the kind of striker with a sound pedigree that Rovers should be looking at but despite John Williams confirming interest in the hitman I am personally loathe to see him move to Ewood.

Williams told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph:

" We have been made aware of his availability by a number of agents. He's a player that Mark is aware of."

It is reported that the fee involved for the gangly front man is around £8million. This story was originally broken by a Sunday newspaper claiming that Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City were believed to be mulling over a £4.5million bid. The difference in price there is startling and I would bulk at the idea of paying £8million for a striker un-tried at our level and from a continent of players who notoriously fail in our league.

Santa Cruz has been with Bayern Munich since 1999 and held the reputation as one of the world`s most exciting potential talents. Alas, despite being relatively prolific for the Paraguayan national side he has failed to replicate this form in the league for Bayern.

Their signings of Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni have pushed Santa Cruz down the pecking and it would appear as though eh is now surplus to requirements.

For me though £8million is far too much, I would even question £4.5million but in Hughes we trust and we will wait in anticipation for an outcome.