Kean stands firm over Samba

Arsenal and spurs may be one of a few clubs leading an interest in Rovers captain Chris Samba but Steve Kean has today come out fighting - by insisting that Rovers have no need to sell.

Having already let Phil Jones leave for Manchester United the departure of the Congo man would leave a massive gaping hole in the defence of the Blue and White but Kean is insistent that Samba will retained.

Kean rather sternly told TalkSport - "We don`t have to sell him.'

"He signed a five-year contract in the last window. He`s one of the players we would like keep."

'We`re going to try and hold on to all our good players."

"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.

"It was difficult with Phil (Jones) because he got the opportunity to go to Manchester United and he wanted to play Champions League football now and we`re not there yet. I`m sure we will be in the next three or four seasons."

Anyone else cringe at the last comment? Either way, Rovers can afford to lose Jones or Samba but not both, with Jones gone the focus must now be on buying the guys that will convince Chris his future lies at Ewood Park.

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