Roque Santa Cruz is ready to slap in a transfer request at Blackburn Rovers.

The Daily Mail says Santa Cruz will formally ask for permission to quit Ewood Park for Manchester City next month.

The Paraguayan remains top of City boss Mark Hughes's wish list for January after he had a £12million bid turned down for the centre forward in August.

City will be back with a £15m offer - with defender Nedum Onuoha thrown in as a makeweight - in the transfer window and it is understood that Santa Cruz will ask to go.