Hamburg keen on Santa Cruz

Hamburg director of sport Oliver Kreuzer has revealed the club have made an offer to out-of-contract striker Roque Santa Cruz.

The Paraguay international is free to join other clubs after his lucrative contract with Manchester City expired at the end of the 2012-13 campaign.

And Kreuzer says that the German side, who finished seventh in the Bundesliga last term, are keen to secure the 31-year-old’s services.

“Roque has been made a financially very good offer and he has told us he finds Hamburg very interesting,” he told Bild.

Kreuzer also explained that Hamburg have given Santa Cruz 10 days to make his decision and added: “Otherwise, we have got to look at other options.”

The club’s star midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has also given his backing to the potential arrival of Santa Cruz.

“It would be a great signing if Roque were to join us,” he said. “His experience would improve the quality of our side.

“I rate Santa Cruz very highly. He has got what it takes to fire us into Europe.”

Santa Cruz scored eight goals in 31 La Liga appearances last term during a season-long loan spell with Malaga.