Christian Samba close to Russia return as Queens Park Rangers accept £12m bid

Former club Anzhi Makhachkala rumoured to want defender back after just half a season at Loftus Road

Jack de Menezes
Tuesday 02 July 2013 13:25 BST
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Chris Samba took a £20,000-a-week pay cut and swapped the Champions League prospects in Russia for a relegation fight with QPR because he missed his family
Chris Samba took a £20,000-a-week pay cut and swapped the Champions League prospects in Russia for a relegation fight with QPR because he missed his family

Queens Park Rangers have agreed a fee that will see defender Christian Samba return to former club Anzhi Makhachkala for £12 million.

The recently relegated club need to lower their wage bill as they prepare for life back in the Championship, with Samba believed to be on a weekly wage in the region of £100,000-a-week. The Congolese captain only signed for Rangers in January for a fee around £12.5m as Harry Redknapp attempted to strengthen the defence in their bid for Premier League survival.

The defender is having a medical at Anzhi but has already agreed terms on a four-year contract worth £100,000-a-week.

Anzhi chairman Konstantin Remchukov announced: “I can confirm that Samba has returned to us. If everything is in order, then he will once again be our player.”

Samba had spent five years with current Championship outfit Blackburn Rovers before his initial move to Anzhi Makhachkala, but it seems he will return to Russia after just half a season back in England.

It is a surprising U-turn for Samba, who admitted his relief at leaving Russia when he completed the move to QPR in a club-record signing.

"All the money in the world cannot make you happy if you don't have your family with you," Samba said in January.

"I came back to be with my family. Life needs to have both sides - enjoy your football and have your loved ones close to you.

"I have no plans to go back to Russia."

QPR have already offloaded high-earners Djibril Cisse, Jay Bothroyd and DJ Campbell as Redknapp continues to reduce the current wage bill, while Julio Cesar and Esteban Granero are also available for transfer.

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