Hughes have had several bids for the Blackburn Rovers striker rejected in January, but have still not given up on signing the Paraguayan star.
He told Sky Sports News: “It is well documented that we have put in a number of bids for Santa Cruz.
“He is a player I have worked with before and I think that he could help us.
“Obviously it has been going on for some time now and it is obviously Blackburn’s prerogative to turn down any offer we make.
“We are trying to move that process forward.”
