Blackburn boss rules out Samba and Yakubu sale

Blackburn manager Steve Kean has no plans to sell star duo Christopher Samba and Aiyegbeni Yakubu. Both have been on form this year for Rovers and have been linked with January transfer window exits.

But Kean wants to ensure that both players stay at Ewood Park, despite Blackburn's torrid league position.


On Yakubu, Kean said: "The message is simple: the Yak is our player and he is performing very well.


"We got him in in the last transfer window at the very last minute and he has been fantastic for us.


"He is not for sale. He is very happy. He is carrying a couple of little knocks, so we just wanted to rest him today to make sure he is fighting fit for when we play Fulham next."


Christopher Samba has been persistently linked with a move to Queens Park Rangers in recent weeks, and said: 


"The situation is simple. Before any bid came in, we said he is not for sale.


"We had already made a decision that he was having treatment on an ankle injury and a bit of a tight hamstring, so that was the reason why he didn't travel. It was nothing to do with the bid.


"He's our player and we want to keep him at the club. I felt as tough he was getting a good partnership with Scott Dann before Scott got a nasty injury, and we want to add to the squad, we don't want to break it up.


"He's not for sale. He is seven or eight months into a five-year contract, and he is certainly a defender we feel has a presence in both boxes."