Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz has emerged as a potential target for Arsene Wenger should Arsenal lose Emmanuel Adebayor to Barcelona during the summer transfer window.
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The Spanish club's new manager Josep Guardiola is planning a major overhaul of the club's squad and is reported to be interested in taking the rangy forward to the club
Adebayor was one of Arsenal's stand out performers in the recently ended Premier League season and, though he has expressed contentment at Arsenal, he went on record to say he was flattered by interest from one of Europe's leading clubs.
Arsenal have already seen Mathieu Flamini join AC Milan on a free transfer and Alexander Hleb, too, is likely to leave North London, with Italian champions Inter leading the chase for his signature.
Adebayor's current deal is worth around £35,000 a week and with Arsenal unable to fend off any substantial offer from a big club with greater financial muscle Arsene Wenger is privately resigned to losing the player and is making alternative plans.
Croatian striker Eduardo is unlikely to play any meaningful football before Christmas as he continues his recovery from the horrific leg break he suffered at Birmingham earlier in the season whilst concerns persist over Robin van Persie after a season blighted by a series of minor injuries.
Santa Cruz scored 19 league goals in 37 appearances for Blackburn after his £3.8 million transfer from Bayern Munich last summer.
The Paraguayan signed on a four-year deal though Wenger is sure that he will receive sufficient backing to meet the demands of Blackburn and the player to facilitate a deal.
Wenger has been impressed by the way Cruz adapted quickly to the particular demands of English football is keen to bring in a player who is familiar with the physical nature of the Premier League and as such would be able to offer a reliable option in an area of the team that was at times found wanting last season.
Though Cruz is an experienced domestic and international player, at 26 he would still fit with Wenger's policy of signing young players with a view to developing them further within the squad.
When Thierry Henry left Arsenal to join Barcelona many predicted that Arsenal would suffer and the fact that they were able to manage his absence was in large part due to Adebayor's contribution.
However, his influence within the dressing room does not always lead to harmony. He has had public falling outs with the management of his national side and during Arsenal's 5-1 defeat to Tottenham in the Carling Cup he and fellow striker Nicklas Bendtner clashed on the pitch.
Wenger would still hope to retain the player though much depends on Barcelona's determination to take him to Spain.
Adebayor is aware of the Catalan club's interest in him and spoke candidly to French sports paper L'Equipe about it.
"It pleases me, because it is very flattering for a young Togolese who is only 24 to see Barcelona following him.
"For the moment I'm very happy at Arsenal," he said. "but we'll see what happens next."
Wenger may well be forced to sell before he can embark on serious summer spending after he was informed by the Arsenal board that the money for improved contracts to keep established players - most notably Cesc Fabregas - at the club will have to come out of the £50 million budget earmarked for this close season.
