Manchester City are set to prise Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz away from Blackburn Rovers by triggering a minimum release fee clause in his contract, according to The Manchester Evening News.
New Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce had claimed that he would not be forced to sell anyone in January, but it now looks as though he will have no option but to let Santa Cruz go when City offer £17 million in January.
The clause in the player's contract states that he can leave Ewood Park should another club offer 18 million Euros for his services.
It is understood that this is too high an asking price for Santa Cruz's other main suitors, Aston Villa, who will probably now switch their full focus to obtaining Emile Heskey from Wigan Athletic.
That leaves City, with their seemingly infinite reserves of Middle-Eastern cash, very much in control of the situation, especially as Santa Cruz has allegedly told friends that he is keen to link up with City boss Mark Hughes, the player's previous manager at Blackburn, again.
Meanwhile, it looks increasingly unlikely that Robinho will feature for the Citizens in the weekend's game with Premier League bottom club West Bromwich Albion.
The Brazilian was a surprise started in the midweek UEFA Cup tie with Racing Santander, but lasted only 45 minutes and seems to have aggravated his ankle problem.
"Robinho was not able to continue so he is a big doubt for the weekend. It it his ankle again," City boss Mark Hughes confirmed today.
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