Santa Cruz linked once again

Roque Santa Cruz is keen to leave Blackburn Rovers and accept Manchester City's offer to sign for them in the January transfer window. Santa Cruz has become restless at Blackburn during a slump that has seen them drop into the relegation places, and the Paraguay international striker has told people involved in the deal that he wants to link up again with Mark Hughes, the man who brought him into English football.

>>guardian.co.uk

No direct quotes unlike the last time this story surfaced, but it does come from the usually reliable Daniel Taylor in The Guradian.

The report suggests that Santa Cruz, along with Wayne Bridge and Lassana Diara are top of Hughes' wanted list and all three would be good signings looking at the current make up of the squad.

Despite Blackburn's reluctance, I don't doubt that if Hughes does indeed want to sign him (and Santa Cruz is interested) then we will ultimately get him as Blackburn will receive an offer they will not be able to turn down.

Equally interesting in the article is the list of players believed to be heading out of the club:

Nery Castillo and Felipe Caicedo will quickly be ushered out of the door but the exodus could also involve Dietmar Hamann, Michael Ball, Javier Garrido, Darius Vassell, Nedem Onuoha and even the Brazil international Elano Blumer.

With the transfer window in January signalling six months into Hughes's reign, is he now beginning to get to grips with the squad and identify those he wants, and those he doesn't?