Mancini braces for City departures

Roberto Mancini is set to trim the bulging Manchester City squad, with Roque Santa Cruz likely to return to Blackburn Rovers.

City are keen to reduce their considerable wage bill, and out of favour Santa Cruz tops a list that includes Shaun Wright-Phillips, Wayne Bridge and Emmanuel Adebayor, all of who are headed for the exit.

Santa Cruz joined from Blackburn in 2009 for a reported free of 17.5 million pounds.

But he has started just eight games in his time at Eastlands and the Paraguay international appears to be on his way back to Ewood Park, on-loan or for a significantly reduced fee.

“He – like all the players – he wants to play,” Mancini said.

“For me it is difficult and I understand the situation. If he has an opportunity to go and play, it is better for them. I hope (the deal will be done) in one or two days and Roque can go and get games.”

Former Arsenal man Adebayor has been linked with a loan move to Fulham, but Mancini is reluctant to let the Togo striker leave until the fitness situation of Mario Balotelli has been clarified.

“We must wait as Manu is a different situation,” he said.

“There are a lot of teams that want Manu. At this moment it is better that we wait to see about the Mario situation. We have another 20 days, we must wait.”

Full-back Wayne Bridge returned to London on-loan at league rivals West Ham, and his former Chelsea teammate Shaun Wright-Phillips is believed to be in Birmingham’s sights.

“Shaun is the same situation like Wayne, but we must wait,” Mancini said.

“Shaun has two or three options. But we want to wait as if we lose three or four players we may not have the players for the rest of the season.”

“I don’t know if it will be Birmingham, there are other teams.”