Roque Santa Cruz has made it clear to Blackburn Rovers that he wants to join Manchester City.

The Daily Mail says the Paraguayan international's representatives spelled it out to the Lancashire club again on Wednesday, but on Thursday night the two clubs remained in deadlock.

With City manager Mark Hughes revealing that a £17million buy-out clause in Santa Cruz's contract will kick in only in the summer, it is clear that the world's richest club are going to have to edge closer to £20m to secure a deal for the 28-year-old striker.

Hughes outlined his frustration when he said: "There is an escape clause in his contract, but the release clause doesn't come in until the summer.

"We have bid a realistic figure, but that is clearly a different figure from what they think they require to allow a player to leave. We accept that.

"We are just trying to make it happen now but there is a certain level that we won't go above and there may come a time when we just walk away."

It is understood that City have bid upwards of £16m, but have been told that it will take an offer of more than £18m before Blackburn will consider letting him go. City defender Tal Ben Haim may yet be part of the deal.