Blackburn Rovers have turned down a bid from Manchester City for striker Roque Santa Cruz and have blasted their rivals for their persistence in chasing the Paraguayan international.

Santa Cruz has been linked with a number of clubs this summer - including City’s neighbours Manchester United. A statement on Rovers’ website read: ‘A bid came in last night and it was immediately rejected.

Various Manchester City officials have been advised on a number of occasions that the player would not be for sale. ‘We are very disappointed, therefore, that they have continued their interest.’

News of a bid from City would seem to fly in the face of recent speculation about a cash crisis at Eastlands following club owner Thaksin Shinawatra’s attempt to gain political asylum in England. City are believed to have tabled a bid worth £12m for the striker’s services.

With Manchester City’s current situation it would be madness to move for Santa Cruz to move to them. At £12 million, a player like Santa Cruz is a real bargain buy and I feel he is capable of succeeding at a big club

I would expect Santa Cruz to demand a move in the next day or two. Surely anyone with any ambition would rather move to a bigger club than stay at a club that may well be looking at a relegation battle this season. I’d genuinely love to see Blackburn do well this year but with Paul Ince at the helm I think Blackburn fans could be in for a very long season.

Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has today been linked with a £15 million move to Italian giants AC Milan. The Spanish international has been linked with a move away from Anfield all summer after it was claimed Benitez had to offload Alonso to fund a move for Gareth Barry.

Alonso was close to joining Juventus earlier in the summer but Liverpool asked for too much, with Juve only prepared to pay £12 million. Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti is keen to add to his midfield options after signing Arsenal midfielder Matthieu Flamini in June.

If a deal is done which sees Alonso leave the Merseyside club, that will inevitably lead to Benitez spending the cash on Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry. The England international has been linked with a move to the club all summer, but as yet nothing has happened.

I firmly believe Liverpool are better off holding onto Alonso and not buying Barry. Alonso has been, and still is a great asset to the club and I feel Benitez hasn’t used the 25-year old to his advantage because he is a super player on his day and every Reds fan knows that.

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Tottenham manager Juande Ramos has reiterated his desire to hold onto striker Dimitar Berbatov. The Bulgarian international has been heavily linked with a £30 million move to Premier League champions Manchester United all summer but as yet nothing has been agreed.

Having lost Robbie Keane last month, Ramos is keen to hang onto the former Bayern Leverkusen star. “He is our player. He is at our club. He is a fantastic player so it would be great for him to stay,” said Ramos. “He is an absolute pro. He has been working independently from anything outside of football. “Any speculation has been handled by his agent and he has been getting on with training professionally.

Sir Alex Ferguson said last week that he wants to bring in a new frontman before the start of the new season on Saturday, with Berbatov said to be his number one target. My personally opinion is that Spurs are already resigned to losing the 27-year old. When United show an interest in a player they rarely miss out on thier man and I feel Berbatov will be at Old Trafford by the start of next week.

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