EWOOD Park legend Colin Hendry believes Birmingham City defender Scott Dann would represent a great deadline-day purchase for Blackburn Rovers – but not at the expense of the club’s current ‘lionheart’ Chris Samba.

It would represent a major coup for Kean if he captured the former England Under 21 international.

However, former Blackburn defender Hendry has warned that any new defender should not be to replace club skipper Samba, whose future in East Lancashire has been the source of speculation for the majority of the summer.

Arsenal continued to be linked with Rovers’ prized asset last night, with time ticking away towards the dead-line, although no firm offer has been made for the defender’s services.

“It’s fair to say Scott Dann is a good defender and would be a good replacement for Phil Jones - but not for Chris Samba,” said Hendry, who made over 330 appearances for Rovers in two separate spells, while also winning the Premier League title in 1995.

“I would be massively disappointed if we lost Samba at this moment in time. It’s all about being strong. Rovers have got to keep their best players.

“When you have got a player that is so important to the team, then you should do all you can to keep them.

“They have already lost their best young protégé in Phil Jones to Manchester United and we all know he’s going to be a top, top player.

“But Samba has been at Ewood Park for quite a number of years, and brings a lot of experience and organisation to the side.

“It’s extremely difficult in this day and age to replace two players of that calibre.”

Hendry added: “We have not had the best of starts to the new season. If we had won two of our first three games, drawn the other, and looked very assured at the back without Samba, then perhaps I would look at it slightly differently.

“But in the current predicament Rovers are in, it would be very unwise to sell him.

"It would be a big statement from the football club to say ‘Sorry Chris, but not this year. You have to stay’.

“At 27, Samba is not even in his prime. When he’s 28 and 29, he should then be at the top of his game.

“He has recently signed a new contract and it’s not going to be too detrimental for him to stay at Blackburn and help them while they are in a spot of bother.”

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