Leading Arsenal target keen to stop battling relegation
Published:Arsenal’s hopes of signing Christopher Samba from Blackburn have been given a boost by the news that the defender is keen to give up battling against relegation.
Samba has spent close to five years at Ewood Park, but has spent the majority of this time lingering marginally above the relegation places, although Blackburn have contested two cup semi finals.
However, this is not enough for Samba and he is keen to move on from Blackburn to a club in a better position to win trophies.
He told French newspaper L’Equipe: “I know there are discussions with some clubs. For four-and-a-half years I have been at Blackburn and fought against relegation.
“If a good opportunity presents itself, I want to take it. I hope the club will understand if I want to make the step up and not prevent a deal.”
Arsenal is the obvious destination for Samba, with Arsene Wenger being linked heavily with both the Congo international and Bolton defender Gary Cahill.
But Samba may have trouble leaving Blackburn given the fact that manager Steve Kean recently allowed fellow defender Phil Jones to leave the club for Manchester United in a £16.5m deal.
Blackburn only managed to avoid relegation on the final day of the last Premier League season when winning at Wolves.
It is 3/1 in the Premier League odds that Blackburn are not so lucky next season, although Kean is of the belief that the club will be competing in the Champions League in the next five years.
Meanwhile, a no-nonsense defender like Samba is exactly what Arsenal require based on their fourth-place finish in the Premier League last season.
With Liverpool and Tottenham threatening to break into the top four this season, Arsenal will have to make some squad improvements and it is 4/7 that they retain their position in the Champions League qualification places.
