Villanueva given Rovers hope
08 Jan 2009 - 07:29:19
Chile midfielder Carlos Villanueva still has a chance to seal a permanent £5million move to Blackburn Rovers in the coming months.
The 22-year-old is currently on a season-long loan at Ewood Park, but Rovers will not take up an option to seal a permanent deal for Villanueva with his parent club Audax Italiano this month.
However, Ewood Park chairman John Williams says that the South American still has a chance to impress boss Sam Allardyce and secure a long-term stay in England.
He told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph: "We have Carlos on loan until the end of the season. That is the fact and we don't know what will happen after that.
"I am not saying we are going to sign him, but I am not saying we aren't either. It was just felt that was the wrong time to commit to paying such money for him.
"Carlos is still a Blackburn Rovers player and will be until the end of the season.
"Sam Allardyce will get the chance to look at him and we will make our decisions on him later on."