• Premier League

Samba alerts Arsenal by declaring he's ready to move

ESPNsoccernet staff
June 23, 2011
Christopher Samba would relish the chance to join Arsenal © Getty Images
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Arsenal have been put on red alert after target Christopher Samba claimed discussions are taking place over his future and warned Blackburn he wants to take the next step in his career.

Samba, 27, recently claimed he had been "very close" to joining Arsenal during the January transfer window but he signed a new long-term contract with Blackburn in February.

Venky's chairperson Anuradha Desai recently acknowledged his desire to join the Gunners but said she was confident he would stay put while, in an interview on Wednesday, Rovers boss Steve Kean underlined those sentiments.

"We don't have to sell him," Kean told talkSPORT. "He signed a five-year contract in the last window. He's one of the players we would like to keep.

"I said earlier this year you are always going to have interest in your good players. It means they're playing well and you're playing well as a team. We're going to try and hold on to all our good players."

However, Samba remains determined to move on if the right offer comes in and he told L'Equipe: "I know there are discussions with some clubs.

"If a good opportunity arises, I want to seize it. It is necessary that the club understands that I want to go one step further.

"I hope they will not put a stick in the wheels. It's been four and a half years I have been at Blackburn and two years I have played in relegation battles."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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