Blackburn Rovers look set to face serious competition in their attempts to sign Roque Santa Cruz permanently this summer - with Manchester City ready to accept a cut-price fee for the striker.

The Paraguayan international has struggled to make much of an impact since returning to Ewood Park on loan in January but that hasn’t stopped Rovers being joined by other clubs in targeting his summer signing.

The 29-year-old Paraguayan was sold to Manchester City for an estimated £17million back in June 2009 but he has since been plagued by injury.

Rovers failed in their attempts to agree a price for Santa Cruz in January once his initial four-month loan spell had finished at the end of the campaign, with City’s valuation understood to be too high.

Now though, with German Bundesliga clubs Mainz and Hannover also believed to be interested, his parent club have resigned themselves to making a huge loss on the striker and could be set to accept as little as £3million for his services.

Rovers boss Steve Kean has already said he would like to keep Santa Cruz at Ewood if the ‘price is right’, although will be bracing himself for a battle for his services.