London - Manchester City have had a bid of "significantly" more than 12 million pounds (18.3 million dollars) for Blackburn Rovers striker Roque Santa Cruz rejected, manager Mark Hughes said on Thursday.

The big-spending club had offered Rovers 12 million pounds to be reunited with Santa Cruz, who played under Hughes at Blackburn, and returned with a renewed offer this month.

But the Welshman said the bid had been turned down.

"We have made a substantially improved bid but it was rejected," Hughes said.

"We still want to bring Roque Santa Cruz to the club if we can, but obviously he is Blackburn's player and at the moment they do not want to deal at the level we have made a bid at.

"That's their prerogative. We bid 12 million pounds in the summer, and this was significantly higher."

Hughes also said West Ham had rejected their overtures to sign Scott Parker and Craig Bellamy, but denied the big-spending club had tried to prise goalkeeper Shay Given from Newcastle United.

"It's well-documented that we made an inquiry over (Parker), and over Craig Bellamy as well, but that was rejected. We have not gone back to the table on that one, but we may well do.

"There has been no offer for Shay Given. As discussed in the past, until something actually happens and we don't put bids in, it is not fair to discuss players that we have not bid for." (dpa)