Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger set to offer £8m for Blackburn Rovers defender Chris Samba - report

Arsenal are reportedly preparing an £8million deal forBlackburn Rovers defender Chris Samba to head to supportArsene Wenger’s back five.

The French boss is reportedly looking to find a candidate to solve the Gunners’ woes in central defence.

The Blackburn captain revealed that he almost exited the club in January but he extended his contract for another year in December after it was rumoured he wanted to join Aston Villa or Arsenal.

He told the Daily Mail: "Everybody knows that I am an ambitious player. I think a move to Arsenal was very close in January but that is life."

Samba made 36 appearances for the Rovers in the 2010-11 season and found the back of the net four times.