Robinho and Kaká head Blackburn's audacious summer wishlist - 7M sport

Robinho and Kaká head Blackburn's audacious summer wishlist



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Posted Wednesday, February 23, 2011 by theguardian.com

• Indian owners target six current Brazilian internationals
• Venky's appears undeterred by Ronaldinho's rejection

Robinho and Kaká head Blackburn's audacious summer wishlist
Kaká is just one of several Brazilians on Blackburn's audacious shopping list.

It seems the owners of Blackburn Rovers know no bounds, despite Ronaldinho's blunt rejection of a move to Ewood Park last month, with a further six Brazil internationals forming part of a summer wishlist for the Venky's Group.

The Indian owner of the Lancashire club remains hopeful it can coax a big-name South American to Ewood Park and are pursuing several options. Representatives of half a dozen players – Robinho, Kaká, Neymar and Elano among them – have been contacted with a view to checking their availability.

Other players under consideration are the rising star Ganso, who plays for Santos and is recovering from a serious knee injury, and the 22-year-old Jucilei of Corinthians. Both have earned a single full Brazil cap.

Landing such a coup is a key part of the new owner's plans for the Premier League club's future, if one which will be met with scepticism from elsewhere.

Speculation this month has already linked the striker Luis Fabiano with a shock transfer to a corner of England he is probably unaware of. Argentinian internationals are also under consideration on what is a genuine list compiled by Venky's in India.

Sources close to the owner readily admit that convincing high-profile players from another continent to move to one of the English top flight's less fashionable clubs will be problematic. Still, the Indian company – which has a most recently reported annual turnover of close to £1bn and profits of a 10th of that amount – is adamant it will pay what it takes in salaries to land a big signing. Venky's is less willing to spend lavishly on transfer fees, but will do so if it feels it is necessary.

It was reported Ronaldinho last month refused wages worth a staggering £20m over three years, and subsequent business by Blackburn during January was low-key. That makes it more likely that a young, up-and-coming Brazilian with aspirations of moving and playing in Europe for the first time would be a realistic target.

Blackburn's senior players may be taking a closer interest than most when Brazil's national team arrive in England for a friendly against Scotland at the Emirates Stadium on 27 March.



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