Striker set to depart Ewood

Chiliean international Carlos Villaneuva could leave Blackburn in January after the club decided not to make his loan permanent.

The 22-year-old forward was brought to Ewood Park by former manager Paul Ince on a year-long loan deal, with the option to keep Villaneuva should the club be interested.

However despite making a bright start to his time in Lancashire, scoring on his debut against Grimsby in the Carling Cup, the Chile international has been frozen out of the first team picture, failing to make an appreance in the last month.

Villaneuva's club Audax Italiano have now confirmed that they are looking for a buyer for the striker, who could leave Blackburn in January should a deal be agreed with another side.

"They (Blackburn) have already confirmed to us that they will not use the option to buy him. Now we are going to use a part of the agreement that allows us to transfer Carlos to another club if they agree," Audax Italiano's general manager Claudio Tessa told the national press.