Santa Cruz: I'll leave in the summer

Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz hopes to keep Rovers in the Barclays Premier League - and secure himself a move to a bigger club in the process.

Manchester City last month failed with multiple bids for 27-year-old, who arrived at Ewood Park in 2007. However, the Paraguay international feels his time at Blackburn is coming to an end.

The former Olimpia and Bayern Munich forward told Fox Sports en Latinoamerica: "I felt I had needed to give back the club everything they gave me with more effort by playing another season."

He added: "Being threatened by relegation stopped me moving.

"My task at Blackburn is done, (the board) knew how I was thinking when I arrived to the club.

"I came here for continuity, to get up to pace again and I did pretty quickly. My intention was always to get in shape and then move to a big club.

"The transfer window put me in touch with people very interested in having me and of course I'm seduced by the idea of playing at very big club again.

"The Blackburn board are aware of that and accept it, but then we were in the relegation places and playing in the top flight is priceless for them. I understand that."