Blackburn have rejected a bid of more than £12million (about R170million) from Manchester City for striker Roque Santa Cruz.

Blackburn have rejected a bid of more than £12million (about R170million) from Manchester City for striker Roque Santa Cruz.

City manager Mark Hughes said he is still keen to sign the 27-year-old Paraguay international, who signed a new contract at Rovers in August.

"We made a bid in the region of £12million and it [the new bid] is significantly higher than that."

Hughes also confirmed that City have had bids for Craig Bellamy and Scott Parker rejected by West Ham.

"We made an enquiry about Bellamy as well [as Parker]. We made a double bid and that was rejected - we haven't gone back to the table but we may well do."

The City manager admitted any deal for Santa Cruz rested on Blackburn being willing to negotiate.

"We have made an improved bid, a substantial bid for Roque Santa Cruz but it was rejected," said Hughes. "We still want to bring him to the club if we can but he is Blackburn's player and they don't want to deal at the level we have made a bid at. That is their prerogative." - BBC