BLACKBURN Rovers owners Venky’s have assured supporters there are no plans to sell any more key players – after insisting they wanted to keep Chris Samba.

Samba’s shock move to Russian big spenders Anzhi Makhachkala late last week has led to reports claiming Venky’s already have plans in place to sell a number of their remaining high earners this summer.

It has been reported star players such as Gael Givet, Paul Robinson, Scott Dann, Yakubu and Steven Nzonzi will be touted around to potential buyers over the coming months, slashing manager Steve Kean’s budget for next season even if Rovers stay in the Premier League.

Venky’s representative and Rovers director Vineeth Rao has branded any suggestion of an imminent ‘fire sale’ as “ridiculous” though, after insisting the summer priority would be on improving the squad.

Rao said: “There are no plans like that there, that is ridiculous. There are no plans to sell any more key players, why would there be? Our immediate focus is on staying up in the Premier League.

“We hope Chris Samba will be the last key departure. There are no plans to sell any more key players because we want to improve the squad.

“We want to add to the squad and improve it, not sell the players we have got. We are not planning on selling any more key players.”

The Lancashire Telegraph understand senior players Vince Grella and Michel Salgado could leave the club in the new few weeks, with transfer windows still open in Asia and America.

Salgado has been told he won’t play for the club again due to ‘contractual issues’, while Vince Grella is recovering from a latest injury set back.

Venky’s sources have told the Lancashire Telegraph that the transfer fee received for Samba was significantly less than the £12million figure reported.

Those sources have suggested the amount was closer to £7m, although Rao declined to comment on the fee apart from confirming it was less than £12m.

Samba himself, though, has backed up the £12m claims, causing confusion over the transfer fee.

Rovers’ director was adamant however Venky’s were intent on keeping Samba at Ewood but ultimately decided they had no choice but to let him leave the club.

Samba had not played for the club since early January having strongly expressed his desire to leave, accusing Venky’s of not matching his ambitions.

Rovers turned down two bids from QPR but, as the stalemate continued beyond the close of the January transfer window, Venky’s conceded it was time to sell.

“It was not even our intention to sell Chris Samba,” said Rao. “We did not want to sell him.

“We wanted him on the pitch because he has been a big player but in the end we had to respect his wishes because he wanted to leave.

“We had to respect his wishes. He has played for Blackburn for five years and has been a very important player.”