City are keen to offload the Paraguayan to reduce their wage bill, according to The Mirror.
The 30-year-old, who is currently on loan at Real Betis, has previously worked with Hughes at the Etihad Stadium and Blackburn Rovers.
Santa Cruz has scored five goals in 20 appearances for Betis this season.
Restore Data
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | |
| 1 | Liverpool | 29 | 21 | 7 | 1 | 69 | 27 | 42 | 70 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 29 | 16 | 10 | 3 | 53 | 24 | 29 | 58 |
| 3 | Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest | 29 | 16 | 6 | 7 | 49 | 35 | 14 | 54 |
| 4 | Chelsea | 29 | 14 | 7 | 8 | 53 | 37 | 16 | 49 |
| 5 | Manchester CityMan City | 29 | 14 | 6 | 9 | 55 | 40 | 15 | 48 |
| 6 | Newcastle UnitedNewcastle | 28 | 14 | 5 | 9 | 47 | 38 | 9 | 47 |
| 7 | Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton | 29 | 12 | 11 | 6 | 48 | 42 | 6 | 47 |
| 8 | Fulham | 29 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 43 | 38 | 5 | 45 |
| 9 | Aston Villa | 29 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 41 | 45 | -4 | 45 |
| 10 | Bournemouth | 29 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 48 | 36 | 12 | 44 |
| 11 | Brentford | 29 | 12 | 5 | 12 | 50 | 45 | 5 | 41 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 28 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 36 | 33 | 3 | 39 |
| 13 | Manchester UnitedMan Utd | 29 | 10 | 7 | 12 | 37 | 40 | -3 | 37 |
| 14 | Tottenham HotspurSpurs | 29 | 10 | 4 | 15 | 55 | 43 | 12 | 34 |
| 15 | Everton | 29 | 7 | 13 | 9 | 32 | 36 | -4 | 34 |
| 16 | West Ham UnitedWest Ham | 29 | 9 | 7 | 13 | 33 | 49 | -16 | 34 |
| 17 | Wolverhampton WanderersWolves | 29 | 7 | 5 | 17 | 40 | 58 | -18 | 26 |
| 18 | Ipswich TownIpswich | 29 | 3 | 8 | 18 | 28 | 62 | -34 | 17 |
| 19 | Leicester CityLeicester | 29 | 4 | 5 | 20 | 25 | 65 | -40 | 17 |
| 20 | Southampton | 29 | 2 | 3 | 24 | 21 | 70 | -49 | 9 |
| > Premier League Full Table | |||||||||
