Source: Telegraph
Blackburn reject Manchester City's renewed offer for Roque Santa Cruz
Mark Hughes is understood to have increased his offer to £17 million, but Blackburn are holding firm on their valuation of £20 million. [LNB]"Yesterday afternoon we put an improved bid to Blackburn for Roque Santa Cruz but it was rejected," said Hughes. [LNB]Sam Allardyce also confirmed Rovers had rejected the latest bid for Santa Cruz - City's fourth. "Yes, they (Manchester City) have made another bid," he said. [LNB]"We have considered it and it's not been accepted. They have been unsuccessful. [LNB]"But whether they come back before Monday's 5pm deadline, I've no idea." [LNB]Hughes said City were considering whether to pursue the matter any further, although Allardyce has suggested they would be wasting their time as he would not be able to find a replacement. [LNB]That later changed earlier on Friday when Allardyce completed the signing of El-Hadji Diouf from Sunderland for around £2m.[LNB]After spending three years together at Bolton, Allardyce and Diouf are again reunited at Ewood Park. [LNB]Allardyce said: "He is a talented player. He can be a little wayward, as everybody knows, but hopefully I'll be able to control him as much as I did when I was at Bolton." [LNB]There will be no immediate return to the north-east for Diouf, though, as Blackburn failed to complete the transfer by the noon deadline ahead of Saturday's game at Middlesbrough. [LNB]Allardyce said: "In the time I spent with him we always finished in the top half of the Premier League, no lower than eighth, and we played in Europe. [LNB]"Hopefully he can bring his ability, his trickery to Ewood Park, and delight some of the Blackburn fans." [LNB]When reminded of Diouf's diving antics that won Allardyce the game that night four years ago, with a chuckle the Rovers manager said: "And nobody has ever done that for Blackburn in the past, have they not? [LNB]"If he goes and plays to his best then they (the fans) will soon take to him because he is talented. [LNB]"I just have to make sure he's ready and available, and he produces the best he can, because his best is very good - and normally it doesn't come this cheap." [LNB][LNB][LNB]
