Manchester City close to finalising Roque Santa Cruz deal with Blackburn

22 June 2009 08:51
The capture of the Paraguayan forward will thus represent another major step forward in the club's rebuilding process with Hughes overhauling the entire front line from that he inherited last season. City made six bids for Santa Cruz over an 18 month period that were rebuffed by Blackburn but the Lancashire club have finally relented with a figure of £18 million, dependent on success, the fee agreed. Santa Cruz is expected to take a thorough medical at Eastlands today, according to a report in the Times newspaper, after he arrives back in England following an end of season holiday. Should that all go as planned then the player would become Hughes' second major signing of the summer following the £12 million paid to Aston Villa for the services of England international Gareth Barry. Barry is almost certain to be handed the club captaincy once Richard Dunne's expected move to Steve Bruce's Sunderland is completed later this month City hope that Santa Cruz's arrival will be only the beginning of an exciting summer's trading, with Samuel Eto'o and Carlos Tevez still within Hughes' sights. Barcelona are willing to sell their Cameroon international striker and City appear to be the only contender willing to match the fee and wages a move would involve. However, Chelsea have entered the race for Tevez, who has ruled out a move to Liverpool, which could see City miss out on a long term target.

Source: Telegraph