No offers for Arsenal target Chris Samba say Blackburn

(GETTY IMAGES)

Blackburn manager Steve Kean insists there has not been a single offer for centre-back Chris Samba and he is keeping his fingers crossed that situation remains the same until the transfer window closes.

Tottenham and Arsenal have both been interested in the defender but with Rovers already having sold Phil Jones to Manchester United, Kean does not want to lose another centre-back.

Kean said: "Chris is only a few months into a five-year contract. There have been rumours every single week but we have not had any bids at all, not one, and long may that continue.

"We know it's life without Phil, and if you lose somebody at the last minute it can be very difficult.

"We hope that won't happen, we hope that's the only centre-half we have lost this season and that they phone doesn't ring and that Chris is happy with us."

Kean also said that talks over a new deal with Zimbabwe striker Benjani, who is out of contract, were "not dead" yet.

He added: "We made him a contract offer that was not adequate for what he was after. There has been a little bit of movement on both sides so it's not dead yet."

Samba is a doubt for Blackburn's opening match of the season at home to Wolves with a groin strain. Ryan Nelsen is back in training but the game will come too soon for the New Zealander.

Radosav Petrovic, the Serbian midfielder signed from Partizan Belgrade, will not be available either because although he has been granted a work permit he is still waiting for his visa to come through.