Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce admits he would love to bring Roque Santa Cruz back to the club.
Rovers boss keen on City misfit
Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce admits he would love to bring Roque Santa Cruz back to the club.
The 29-year-old Paraguay striker made the switch to Manchester City from Rovers in a big-money move in July last year, but has fallen way down the pecking order at Eastlands.
Santa Cruz has only made two appearances for City this season and has signalled his intention to leave the club as soon as possible, with Eastlands boss Roberto Mancini holding open the exit door.
He is thought to be open to a return to Blackburn, where he spent two successful years between 2007 and 2009.
However, boss Allardyce is unsure whether a move for the forward would fall within the budget of the club's new owner Venky's, following the Indian company's £23million takeover last week
Financial
Asked if Santa Cruz was the type of player he would like to sign,
Allardyce said: "Yes, I think so - there is no doubt about that.
"Whether players of that ilk want to come back to Blackburn Rovers and play for us, that is fine - but it all depends on the financial side of it.
"There will be some finances but whether it will stretch to the size of the sort of wages that Manchester City pay is a difficult one.
"They have blown everyone out of the water recently by the signings they have made and the main reason has been the size of the financial package they have been offering.
"Whether Manchester City can recoup their money or whether we can afford that player's wages is a difficult scenario to try and get over."
Santa Cruz scored 23 goals in 57 Premier League appearances for Blackburn during his time at the club, and if Rovers manage to bring him back for a bargain price it would prove excellent business for the Lancashire outfit.
