Congo defender Christopher Samba wants to play for Arsenal although Blackburn Rovers are determined to keep him for next season’s campaign.

Anuradha Desai, chairperson of the Venkys group who own Blackburn, confessed to the Daily Mail that the Blue and Whites want to keep the strong centre back at the club adding however that his ambition is to play for Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal with reports suggesting that the Gunners should be ready to pay £12m for the 27-year old.

Last season, the Gunners conceded 43 goals in the English Premier League, two more than last year and six more than two seasons ago with more and more questions asked on the defensive department.

With Thomas Vermaelen featuring only in the first and last months of the season, Switzerland’s Johan Djourou’s and France’s Laurent Koscielny were the two who featured the most at the back with veteran Sebastien Squillaci failing to make an impact on his first season at the club.

Bolton’s Gary Cahill is also heavily linked with a move to the Emirates with manager Owen Coyle confessing last week that “some of the top clubs in this country” have shown interest in the Englishman who is reportedly available for £25m.

On Samba’s future, Anuradha Desai said:

We don’t want to let Chris go. I’m confident that we can keep him and I hope he’ll stay. I know he has an ambition to play for Arsenal but I hope we can keep him for another year at least and prove our own ambition.