Chris Samba is on the brink of signing a new long-term contract at Blackburn, with Rovers manager Steve Kean claiming the deal will draw a line under the takeover turmoil.
The Congo defender said he wanted to leave Ewood Park following the sacking of Sam Allardyce and has been the subject of interest from several clubs, but has been persuaded to stay by Kean.
The Rovers boss, who said the club is closing in on another signing before the transfer window closes, said: ‘Hopefully things with Chris Samba will be tied up within a matter of hours and yes that will draw a line under things that have happened since the takeover.
‘Equally, when you have got your club captain in Ryan Nelsen and someone like Michel Salgado, who had a number of offers from elsewhere, signing new contracts as well as Chris, who is our team captain, it just shows they all think you are going in the right direction.
Chris Samba
‘I’m confident of getting another body in before the window closes and hopefully we will have somebody doing the medical side of a transfer today.’
Kean would not reveal who that player was but he has not ruled out Blackburn managing to persuade Argentinian midfielder Mauro Formica to join from Newell’s Old Boys even though he has been in talks with Monaco.
He added: ‘He’s one that we felt last week was slipping away when he went to Monaco but maybe it could spark again and we could get it done before the window closes.’
Kean has accepted defeated in bringing in Sebastian Larsson from Birmingham or 19-year-old striker Ruben Rochina, who plays for Barcelona B.
He added: ‘The information I’m getting is the bid for Larsson is not adequate and I don’t think that one will happen. For someone with a small time left on his contract we put in a realistic bid so we respect that he’s either not for sale or Birmingham are after more money.
‘On Rochina, I don’t think that one will happen until the summer – it’s very, very complicated. We were hopeful he would come this window but I think that will be the summer.’
Ryan Nelsen will be missing for Blackburn’s FA Cup fourth-round match at Aston Villa tomorrow with a knee problem.
Three midfielders are back from long injury absences however – Steven Nzonzi could start while Keith Andrews and Vince Grella will also be part of the squad.
Rovers faced Villa five times last season, including the FA and Carling Cups, and Kean admitted: ‘We’ve played them that often that when they came out of the hat it was “oh no, not them again”.
‘They are a team on the up and are going to be tough but we have had a really good week and are confident we can do something.
‘If we can get a result and then a home tie in the next round we could have a really good run in the FA Cup.’
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Blackburn defender Chris Samba could be on the move this summer after revealing he came close to joining Arsenal in January.
The 27-year-old put in an outstanding performance as Rovers drew 1-1 at West Ham yesterday and was unbeatable in the air as Avram Grant fielded four strikers for the majority of the second half.
Blackburn’s resistance was broken by Thomas Hitzlsperger’s late 25-yard drive but there was still time for Samba to throw himself in the way of Carlton Cole’s volley to deny the Hammers three vital points.
Samba has become a rock for Steve Kean’s side but will consider his options at the end of the campaign after four and a half years at Ewood Park.
He said: “Everybody knows that I am an ambitious player.
“I am at an age now where I want to try to do something. You only have one career and it would be a shame to not make the best of it.
“I am happy at Blackburn but I will study any opportunities that come my way this year.
“I’m not trying to move away but of course I would look if it is the right thing for me.
“I think a move to Arsenal was very close in January but that is life. You have to continue.
“If it happens, it happens, but it wasn’t meant to be and football is like that. I committed myself to Blackburn and will always do my best.”
Samba came out on top of his personal duel with England striker Cole who twice felt he should have had a penalty after wrestling with the giant centre-half.
On both occasions Samba appeared to win the ball and he insisted such tussles were part and parcel of the game.
He said: “West Ham needed to get three points and they were playing with four or even five strikers in the second half.
“They only had one clear shot on goal which went in.
“When you are down there you try to force your destiny. You try to win a penalty and make the referee make a bad decision.
“But I stay strong and keep calm. You know when a player has taken a fall but we all play the game and we must get on with it.
“It is tough to keep focused but we defended very well and it was a good point for us.”