Aston Villa are set to beat Manchester City for the signature of Paraguayan International Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn Rovers, according to the Daily Star.

Villa manager Martin O’ Neill has reportedly made the striker his main transfer target and is set to test Rovers resolve by making an offer of £16million to lure the forward away from Ewood Park.

27-year-old Santa Cruz joined Blackburn from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich last summer, with the Paraguayan making a huge impact in his debut season in the Premiership. Leading to the forward being linked with a move away from the Lancashire club.

City are understood to already have had two offers for Santa Cruz to make the switch to the Eastlands Stadium, with new Blues boss Mark Hughes keen to land the striker he brought to the Premier League when he was in charge at Rovers. While Manchester United have also been linked with the South American as Old Trafford supremo Sir Alex Ferguson continues his search for a striker.

Blackburn manager Paul Ince is desperate to keep the prolific front man at Ewood Park, but rumours of Santa Cruz being unhappy at Rovers, could see him leave for Villa Park should Blackburn decide that £16million represents good business for a player that cost them only £3.5million last summer.