Franco di Santo loan bid – a good move?

Rovers have made an approach to bring Chelsea striker Franco di Santo to Ewood Park on loan.

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph has reported that Sam Allardyce is keen to bring in the 20-year-old to bolster his striking options with the futures of both Roque Santa Cruz and Matt Derbyshire uncertain.

Chelsea appear keen to send the youngster, who has yet to net for the club, out on loan to get some Premiership experience.

As to whether the move represents good business depends on what role Allardyce has in mind for the Argentinian.  With no Premier League goals to his name he is hardly someone Rovers will want to rely on to score important goals, and he surely wouldn’t be picked above McCarthy or Roberts.

But in fairness he is still likely to get more game time at Ewood Park and could prove to be an astute piece of business.  Having only made snippets of appearances for Chelsea evaluating his ability is  difficult.

But lest we forget the financial considerations, with chairman John Williams looking to cut the wage bill and with a conservative transfer budget, getting an extra body in with out too much financial risk is understandable, particularly as the number of striking options available at the start of the season is uncertain.

Di Santo in action

Warnock resigned to losing Santa Cruz

Rovers left-back Stephen Warnock has conceded that Roque Santa Cruz will leave the club this summer.

Warnock, voted Player of the Year by fans, told Sky Sports News he thought Santa Cruz had played his last game in a Rovers’ shirt.

”It is going to be difficult to keep Roque. He has stated he wants a new challenge where he could possibly play Champions League football and he has more than proved himself in the Premier League,” Warnock said.

“He is a player I admire tremendously and I think he is a fantastic player.”

Even the most optimistic Rovers’ fan has to concede that Roque will be leaving but the situation looks much bleaker for the Paraguayan, and indeed Rovers, in comparison to January.

Back then, a bid of £20m was the figure in question from Eastlands, but so far this summer City appear to have other options that are demanding their focus, including Carlos Tevez.

If they were to come in for Santa Cruz, which in itself is uncertain, a fee in excess of the bounty offered in January is very unlikely, given the striker’s injury problems and lack of form.

Despite this, there is no doubt in Cruz’s ability, but the decision to keep hold of him for the second half of the season now appears in hindsight to be detrimental to both Roque and Rovers.