Happy Santa staying a Rover

The agents of Roque Santa Cruz have blasted reports suggesting the striker wants to leave Blackburn for Manchester City.

The striker has been linked with a switch to Eastlands ever since Mark Hughes took charge and it is thought the former Rovers boss failed with a bid before the transfer window closed last summer.

Santa Cruz has now been quoted as saying he would consider a move to City, who are a club "that will be fighting for important objectives" in the future.

However, a spokesperson for JB Sports2Business has now played down the quotes and insists the player is fully committed to Rovers.

"I don't think there is anything at all in these comments," they revealed. "Roque would not be so stupid as to say things like this, even if it was to a small radio station in Paraguay.

"Every time we speak to him he is very happy at Blackburn, that is why he signed a new contract this summer. Roque is not trying to line up a move away.

"There have been a number of stories in the newspapers saying he has said this but every time we speak to him, he says there is no truth in him looking for a move.

"That is all we can say on the subject really. He is very happy at Blackburn and has no reason to be looking for a move away. We believe a lot of things written are rubbish."