Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn Rovers)

Just read this on the Sky Sports website.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_5215915,00.html

The article from the link posted above by danny8t4:

Roque reveals exit plan

Blackburn star still wants to quit the club

Roque Santa Cruz has revealed that he has already told Blackburn that he wants to leave the club this summer.

The Paraguayan star was the subject of more than one bid from Manchester City in January - but Rovers stood firm and shunned the offers.

A host of clubs are continually being linked with the former Bayern Munich man - who has confirmed that he will defintley be looking to leave the club.

The 27-year-old is currently recovering from knee surgery and he told the media in his homeland that he would be looking to quit Ewood Park - whether they stay up or not.

"I have already told them (Blackburn) and they know that before the transfer window closes I would like to continue my career at a bigger, more ambitious team," he told Radio Nanduti.

"Even though I haven't heard anything, I haven't changed my mind."

Season over

Santa Cruz admits he may struggle to play for Rovers again this season, admitting that he could very well have already played his final game for the club.

"I think it will be very difficult for me to play again this season because of the recovery. Our last league match is on May 24 and I also need a couple of days for my knee to physically recover," he said.

"I had to clean the zone where I had the cruciate ligament operation I had three or four years ago because there was some liquid there.

"When I had the tendonitis in the left knee, it made the other leg overwork. That's why it got worse and I needed the surgery.

"Now, it is up to the knee. The recovery time is between four and six weeks and I will not hurry. The most important thing is to play without any problems.

"I will wait for my knee to be perfect, no matter how long it takes."

I am against bringing him in, i cant see santa cruz and nando playing well together. too much alike in my opinion. santa cruz is a goal poacher, and he would choose to take a long range shot rather then pass it someone front of himself. thats my opinion after observing him playing for rovers + i feel like he wont enjoy being over shadowed by nando, he would like to be nr "9" (star-player)

I like Santa Cruz and what he can bring to the team, it is something we lacked seen Crouch left the club but it all depends on what price is being thrown around.

10-12 million??

No thanks.

Not sure about him. I know he's kind of prolific and maybe he would get the goals for us. But this raises another question: Will it break the Torres and Gerrard combo?

Lets see how this develops as it looks to be an interesting saga. And as if now, Barry's saga looks to be over, can't see him coming anymore.

The move needs to be right, we don't want another Robbie Keane situation...

We need a striker yes but also a proper genuine right winger more so.

No.. too expensive for a back up winger. Don't need a striker to play with Torres. Also I don't think he's good enough for Liverpool

No way I think someone said he is prolific, no he is not the only time he got double figures in a season was last season, he had an average of 6 a season for Bayern, the  price Ive heard is 20 million are Blackburn having a laugh this is another Bentley signing, let City with all there money sign this lad, he would not be a good signing for us.

Yes please. And heres why

He wants to move to a big club and challenge for things. We want someone of top quality who can cover Nando or come off the bench to change a game or give us another option for a decent sum. 10 million would probably get him since fat Sam and Blackburn could be relegated. He knows the prem league well, speaks the language and if he doesnt speak it well theres a load of Spainish lads in the dressing room.

Yep Id be well pleased to land him compared to some of the other names being thrown about on this board

He has being poor this season he has 4 in 17, sure why don't we buy McCarthy as well, he had a good season for Blackburn a couple of years ago, Santa Cruz had one good season have we not learned from other signings made by other clubs on the back of one season, look at Bentley, Bent, Bellamy(there was people on here calling for the signing of the fiirst two). As I've said already he has an average of 6 goals a season in his career and if you examine his career he has being very injury prone. Please don't sign this lad, he is similar to Torres without the pace can't see him being able to form a partnership with Torres.

I personally don't really rate him. There are far far better players out there for what they are asking for.

Plus his injuries, he'll need time to fully recover. He didn't play any competitive games yet because of his injury. We know that he's a goal poacher but with his injuries right now and time needed to fully recover and another time for him to get to his fully best condition, I say it's a waste of time and money!

He has being poor this season he has 4 in 17, sure why don't we buy McCarthy as well, he had a good season for Blackburn a couple of years ago, Santa Cruz had one good season have we not learned from other signings made by other clubs on the back of one season, look at Bentley, Bent, Bellamy(there was people on here calling for the signing of the fiirst two). As I've said already he has an average of 6 goals a season in his career and if you examine his career he has being very injury prone. Please don't sign this lad, he is similar to Torres without the pace can't see him being able to form a partnership with Torres.

Two points:
1. Why do people keep saying we need a striker to 'form a partnership with Torres'. He is a lone striker, the only player to have successfully played with him as a striker is David Villa and that is because Torres pushes higher up the pitch to assist Villa, its a one off situation. IF we sign a striker it should be someone who doesn't need to form a partner ship with Torres, they have to be capable of playing as a lone striker coming of the bench, or stay out of Torres' way  and take defenders away from Torres when they come off the bench.
2. I don't believe he's good enough even off the bench

If so we don't really need a striker why not we find a right winger that can be a striker, meaning the winger that pull defenders away from Torres and give the space he needed. A winger that can cause trouble to the defenders. We all know Torres-Gerrard partnership is brilliant and other teams also knows that. By buying right midfielder/winger that have the same stature and ability as Gerrard does will surely create a hell for the opposing teams.

If so we don't really need a striker why not we find a right winger that can be a striker, meaning the winger that pull defenders away from Torres and give the space he needed. A winger that can cause trouble to the defenders. We all know Torres-Gerrard partnership is brilliant and other teams also knows that. By buying right midfielder/winger that have the same stature and ability as Gerrard does will surely create a hell for the opposing teams.

I think David Silva would fit that bill perfectly ...even though he is a left sided midfielder he's very versatile and can play in that position ! He can cause trouble for defenders and also create space for himself and other and he links up with Torres very well plus .....he just oozes class !

He has scored a few stunners but not convinced he is not injury proned

Not a bad player, but not good enough for the reds.

After the Keane disaster I don't want to take anymore one trick ponies.  The 'done it in the Premiership' factor no longer holds much water IMO.

Further to my above point, from what I'm hearing, this is seriously on the cards.

Further to my above point, from what I'm hearing, this is seriously on the cards.

Is your source reliable ?

I wouldn't have posted if it didn't have some credibility.

I can imagine Big Fat Headed Sam will be a major stumbling block though.

He'll definitely add strength in depth for us, that we're lacking upfront.  Smooth move.  Just hope we're not paying too much!!!