Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has confirmed that Roque Santa Cruz is poised to complete a loan return to Blackburn.
Santa Cruz made a £17.5million move from Blackburn to City in the summer of 2009 but has made just eight starts for the Blues in that time.
Asked if Santa Cruz would be joining Blackburn, Mancini told Sky Sports News: “Probably.
“For Roque and for Shaun (Wright-Phillips) it’s the same situation. They’re good players but every player wants to play and, for me, it’s difficult.
“I understand their situation very well, and if they have the opportunity to go to another team and play all the time, it’s better for them.”
Mancini expects a deal to be struck for Santa Cruz in “one or two days” but City are still considering whether to let Wright-Phillips leave on a short-term deal.
The England winger has made just two Premier League starts this term and was strongly linked with a loan move to Birmingham before Fulham entered the race.
“We must wait because if we lose three or four players then maybe we won’t have enough players for the rest of the season,” said Mancini.
“I don’t think it’s only Birmingham, I think there are one or two teams (interested).”
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