Blackburn terminate Pascal Chimbonda contract

Blackburn have terminated the contract of unsettled defender Pascal Chimbonda.

The former Wigan and Tottenham full-back was told by former manager Sam Allardyce in November he could leave this month and new boss Steve Kean followed that through.

The 31-year-old Frenchman, who has been linked with a number of clubs including QPR and Ipswich, is now free to pursue other options having been released last night.

Kean said: "Pascal left yesterday. We came to an agreement, mutual consent, that his contract is terminated and we wish him all the best wherever he goes."

Kean, having signed Roque Santa Cruz and Jermaine Jones this month, is still looking to add to his squad in the current transfer window but his interest in Birmingham midfielder Seb Larsson looks over.

Kean said: "We put a bid in but unfortunately it wasn't accepted.

"We were disappointed because we thought the bid was realistic considering how long he had on his contract.

"We put in a final offer and that doesn't seem to be enough so maybe that one will fizzle out."

Rovers have also been linked with Argentinian playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme but Kean says there is little chance of a deal happening.

He said: "Riquelme has probably been offered to all sorts of clubs but he is not one that will be coming."

Kean is also trying to tie defender Christopher Samba to a new contract.

Samba's future has been uncertain since Kean took over from Allardyce last month after quotes attributed to him suggesting he wanted to leave.

Kean said: "We have opened talks with Chris and had a really great chat with him.

"We hope to get something to him in writing within the next 24 hours.