Allardyce says Santa Cruz can go for 40 million pounds

Blackburn Rovers manager Sam Allardyce has said striker Roque Santa Cruz can leave for 40 million pounds (58 million dollars) – but he does not expect to be inundated with offers.

Allardyce has repeatedly insisted he does not want to sell Santa Cruz during the January transfer window.

However, the Paraguay international has made it clear he wants to join Manchester City and link-up again with manager Mark Hughes, who brought him to Ewood Park fromn German giants Bayern Munich last season.

But Allardyce, who took over at Blackburn from the sacked Paul Ince last month, said the only conceivable way he would let Santa Cruz join the world’s wealthiest football club was if City paid 40 million pounds, which he reckons is what it is worth for Rovers to stay in the Premier League.

“The bottom line is, we don’t want to sell Roque Santa Cruz,” Allardyce, whose side’s 3-0 win over Newcastle last weekend lifted them out of the Premier League relegation zone for the first time in two months, told Talksport Radio on Monday.

“For me, we won’t be selling Roque Santa Cruz, that’s a certainty. The money is no good to me at this stage of the season.

“Roque Santa Cruz is more valuable to me and more valuable to Blackburn Rovers than the money, whoever might offer.”

Allardyce added: “There’s 40 million pounds at stake (to stay in the Premier League) per year and I don’t think anyone is going to offer us 40 million pounds for Roque Santa Cruz.”

Asked if he would sell for such a price, Allardyce replied: “I think I’d have to. I don’t think the board would take too kindly to me saying ‘No, I’m still not taking that’.”