Mark Hughes is poised to raid former club Blackburn with a £15million bid for Roque Santa Cruz - and dampen the hopes of North London's big two.

Tottenham and Arsenal  are reported to be interested in the Paraguayan who netted 19 goals last season but Manchester City  boss Hughes is suffering from a lack of fire power after Benjani  tore a thigh muscle while training and will sit out the start of the season.

To make matters worse, £19m record signing Jo will be unavailable after being called up to Brazil’s Olympic squad.

That leaves Hughes with Darius Vassell, Italian duo Rolando Bianchi and Bernardo Corradi, Ched Evans, 19, and Daniel Sturridge, 18 and The Sun reports that the City chief will look to tempt Blackburn with a big cash offer for the 26-year-old.

If he fails, he will look to Real Zaragoza’s £7m-rated Argentinian Diego Milito.