Arsenal Transfer Rumours See Gunners Target Blackburn's Christopher Samba
Anyone who watched Arsenal play last season, particularly down the stretch, knows precisely where their biggest area of need in this year's transfer market lies: the defense. The Gunners back line was downright terrible last season, particularly in the center, where Laurent Koscielny was hurt and the other potential starters couldn't get the job done.
Fortunately, it would appear that manager Arsene Wenger has set his sights on fixing the issues in the middle, and has several prominent targets lined up.
One of those big names is Blackburn standout Christopher Samba. The 28-year-old central defender has been an anchor in the Rovers' defense, and has been on Wenger's radar for quite some time. Now, according to a report from Metro Sport, Samba could well find himself at Emirates next season.
With top target Gary Cahill of Bolton featuring an asking price of £17 million, Samba represents a sizable discount at just £8 million, without a significant drop in production or skill. His size and strength in the center of the defense makes him an excellent defender, and his skills are just what the Gunners need to boost their back line.
On top of that, Wenger has been interested in the big back since January, and Samba recently revealed that he was nearly sent to the North London club during that winter transfer window.
"Everybody knows I am an ambitious player. I'm not trying to move away but of course I would look if it is the right thing for me," he said.
"I think a move to Arsenal was very close in January, but that is life."
But, as with any potential transfer, this isn't quite a done deal yet. Wenger still has interest in Cahill and others in the center, and could decide that even with a higher price tag, the English back is more valuable than Samba, or he could go in a completely different direction (this is Arsene Wenger we're talking about, after all). There's also the chance that Blackburn opts to keep their talented defenseman, and forces the Gunners to seek the services of someone new.
In the end, though, this move seems to make sense for all parties. Samba would be a great fit for the Gunners, filling a significant need on their back line, while Rovers would get a good sized chunk of change for their big defenseman. Look for Wenger to take the value player here, and score himself a marked upgrade on his back line.
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