Blackburn manager Steve Kean is desirous of a swap deal which would involve Christopher Samba to move to Villa Park in return for Stephen Warnock and James Collins.
Samba expressed his desire to leave Ewood Park following Sam Allardyce’s departure as manager. Gerrard Houllier is interested in the 6 ft 4 inch defender but Villa have not been able to match Rovers’ valuation for the tall defender. On the other hand, Stephen Warnock has been frozen out of Villas’s first team squad since Houllier’s arrival. A move back to his old club would get his playing career on track. Warnock spent three seasons at Ewood Park where he notched up five goals in as many as 88 appearances.
Kean is also exploring the possibility of signing Villa centre-half James Collins. With Houllier losing faith in Dunne’s abilities, it looks unlikely that the former West Ham man would be allowed to move out of Midlands. With backing from the new Indian owners, Kean has formed a shortlist which includes names such as Blackpool’s Charlie Adam, Manchester City’s Roque Santa Cruz and Fulham winger Damien Duff.
Rovers are also battling Arsenal for the signature of 16-year old teenage sensation Nick Powell.
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