BLACKBURN Rovers skipper Chris Samba has admitted that he would be open to a move away from Ewood Park this summer.

Samba had briefly suggested he wanted to leave following Sam Allardyce’s sacking in December but Rovers staved off interest from Premier League rivals to tie the centre back down to a new four-and-half-year contract a month later.

Arsenal were among those said to be interested at the time and Samba has now confirmed that he was ‘very close’ to joining the Gunners during the January transfer window.

And the 27-year-old has admitted his desire to play for one of the top teams in the Premier League could tempt him away from Rovers in the summer.

"Everybody knows that I am an ambitious player,” he said.

"I am at an age now where I want to try to do something.

"You only have one career and it would be a shame to not make the best of it.

"I am happy at Blackburn, but I will study any opportunities that come my way this year.

"I'm not trying to move away, but of course I would look if it is the right thing for me.

"I think a move to Arsenal was very close in January, but that is life. You have to continue.

"If it happens, it happens, but it wasn't meant to be and football is like that.

"I committed myself to Blackburn and will always do my best."