Liverpool and Arsenal on red-alert as Blackburn defender ponders exit

Blackburn are reluctant to let go of any defenders in the January transfer window, but may now have to come to terms with losing two of their most prominent.

In the week that captain Chris Samba has rocked the club by handing in a transfer request, his first choice central defensive partner Scott Dann is now also seeking reassurances regarding his future at the club.

Dann, 24, only joined Rovers in the summer, costing a princely £6m in a deadline day switch from Birmingham.

But the highly-rated Englishman was reportedly given assurances that he would be signing to play alongside Samba, rather than to replace him.

Now, with Samba desperate to leave the club, Dann could ask to exit also, with Liverpool and Arsenal waiting in the wings for a player they showed a serious interest in during the close season.

Alex McLeish is also keen on the man he managed at Birmingham, but would likely have to offer James Collins in part-exchange for any deal to come to fruition, and the Welshman is thought to be reluctant to discuss a move to Ewood Park.

David Moyes would also love to take the former Coventry centre-half to Merseyside to ease his injury woes, but would likely struggle to stump up a fee in the required region to prise him from fellow Glaswegian Kean’s grip.

As the sale of Samba appears key to whether Dann will remain at the club also, Rovers fans will be disappointed to hear of their captain’s decision to reiterate his desire to leave to his boss.

A deal being done sooner rather than later for the Congolese defender would now look preferable for the Lancashire outfit, as they may look to re-invest in an attempt to keep Dann happy.

With new homegrown rules coming into regulation next season, Liverpool and Arsenal are sure to be at the forefront of potential suitors should he instead decide his future lies away from Ewood Park.