Roque Santa Cruz set to leave Man City in January . . . . phew
Santa Cruz has scored only four goals for City in 23 matches
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini says Roque Santa Cruz is free to leave the club in January, while Fulham have already expressed an interest.
The 29-year-old Paraguayan striker, who arrived from Blackburn in 2009, has played only once this season.
"I hope for him that he can go to play for another team, because he deserves this," said Mancini.
Meanwhile, Fulham boss Mark Hughes said: "I'm interested in players of the quality of Roque."
Hughes, who worked with Santa Cruz both at City and Blackburn, failed in an attempt to sign him on loan during the summer.
"My interest in him before was there for everybody to see," said Hughes, who was replaced by Mancini at Eastlands last December.
"Whether we pursue that in January is open to debate. I'm not aware that he's available. That might change.
"This time in the transfer window we want to target players quite early so that we are ready to flick the switch when the window opens."
Santa Cruz scored 23 goals in 57 matches for Blackburn before joining City last summer.
However, injuries and stiff competition for places have hampered his progress and he has scored only four goals in 23 appearances for the club.
Mancini added: "Roque is a fantastic man and a good player, but he knows the situation here.
"I am very sorry for him because he deserves to play every game, because he works very well. But it is difficult at the moment."
ROBERTO MANCINI has told his Manchester City millionaires to cut out the boozing or face the axe from Eastlands.
Mancini has been left reeling after several of his players were caught taking part in a drinking binge in Scotland earlier this week.
The England trio of Gareth Barry, Adam Johnson and Joe Hart were videoed downing drinks at a student party in St Andrews.
The incident came just 24 hours after City’s home thrashing by fellow title challengers Arsenal and left Mancini furious.
Starsport understands the Italian has fined the three involved and issued a serious dressing down to the rest of his squad.
He has told them to cut down on their party lifestyles and focus on keeping fit as City look to challenge for the Premier League crown.
Clean-living Mancini will not stand for such behaviour and admits he finds the English culture difficult to accept.
Harry Redknapp has suffered similar problems at Tottenham and the City boss is desperate to avoid a drinking culture developing at Eastlands.
The former Inter Milan chief said: “I don’t understand it. The last video was on Monday and that was a day off, so the players can do what they want.
“But I don’t understand why they have chosen this and I am unhappy about it. We are playing every three or four days at the moment and it is difficult enough to recover.
“I want to resolve this problem in the dressing room, not here.
“It was a day off and the players can go where they want, but when we are playing every three days, the players need to know it’s important they recover well between games.
“This is not a problem only for us, it is a problem for many British players. It’s a cultural thing.
“I read that Aston Villa and Tottenham had the same problem.
“I want to solve the problem in the dressing room because here is not good.”
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Arsenal's teenage midfielder Jack Wilshere is set to sign a bumper new £20m, five-year contract at the Emirates.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Blackburn will look to bolster their squad with new owners VH Group's money and Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips is on their wish-list. Daily Mirror
Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny will not be leaving the club on loan this season, despite interest from Celtic. talkSPORT
Stoke City are set to reignite their interest in Young Boys defender Ammar Jemal in January. talkSPORT
Wigan are hoping to finalise the transfer of Deportivo La Coruna defender Piscu after he impressed on trial. talkSPORT
Manchester United are hoping to take advantage of ructions at struggling Serie A side Roma by making a move for Italian international Daniele de Rossi. caughtoffside
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is toying with the idea of making a move for Real Madrid bench warmer Karim Benzema. caughtoffside
Chelsea have emerged as strong favourites to land teenage striker Romelu Lukaku from Anderlecht after Tottenham were told they were wasting their time trying to sign him. Lukaku became the youngest ever winner of the Golden Boot in Belgium last season, and the 17-year-old is believed to have his heart set on a move to Stamford Bridge having already been urged to do so by Didier Drogba.Goal.com
Wayne Rooney has been warned he will not be guaranteed a start for Manchester United when he returns from injury due to the form of Javier Hernandez. Daily Mirror
Manchester United are considering a return for former assistant manager Carlos Queiroz. The 57-year-old, who was recently sacked from his role as Portugal coach, has had two previous spells at Old Trafford.
Daily Mail
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