Blackburn Rovers boss Steve Kean eyes Leicester City’s Sol Bamba to strengthen his defence
Blackburn Rovers boss Steve Kean admitted he was looking to bring in defenders to strengthen the back four before the beginning of the new Premier League season. His statement comes at a time when the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Christopher-Samba-c9212 to London side Arsenal.
Blackburn Rovers have already lost one of their most promising young defender earlier on in the transfer window, Phil Jones to Premier League champions Manchester United. Kean has not yet found a replacement for the 19-year-old http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/England-c749 under-21 international.
In addition to the departure of Jones, Blackburn could lose former skipper Samba to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Arsenal-c38429 this summer. The 27-year-old Congolese defender has been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium and could join the Gunners if a concrete offer is made before the transfer window closes.
Kean has so far denied rumours of Samba leaving Ewood Park, claiming he was in need of defenders even if Samba stayed. The http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Congo-c2875 international is currently sidelined with an injury and could go on to miss the opening fixture of the new Premier League season this weekend.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/New-Zealand-c754 international adds to Kean’s defender problem, which has the manager convinced he needs to bring in a central defender for the new season.
While Gael Givet and Grant Hanley are currently fit, Kean voiced his concern over the possibility of either of the two or both of them picking up an injury. The Blackburn boss admitted he did not have an adequate replacement for them.
Kean said in an interview:
“Even if http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Phil-Jones-c29903 yet and we want to make sure we have good competition for places.
If Gael Givet or Grant Hanley get injured then we don't have a centre-back because Ryan [Nelsen] is still injured. We certainly need another centre back.”
Kean has his sights set on http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sol-Bamba-c33756, the 26-year-old Leicester City defender, as a possible new signing. He admitted he had made an offer for the Ivory Coast international and was looking forward to negotiations with the Championship side over the Ivorian defender.
Kean continued:
“We are quite close. An offer has been put in and we are trying to progress that although it is slow. The good news is it hasn't been rejected so we are moving forward."
Bamba joined Leicester City from Scottish outfit Hibernian FC in the January transfer window of 2011 for an undisclosed fee. The strong defender has previously featured for Paris-Saint Germain and Dunfermline Athletic and is a regular for the Ivory Coast national side.
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