By Akyereko Emmanuel

Christopher Samba

Aston Villa have popped up to join Fulham in pursuit of defender Chris Samba during the January transfer window.

The Congo international, who recently handed in a transfer request at Ewood Park in protest of the sacking of manager Sam Allardyce was stripped of the club captaincy as a result.

His utterances has thus drew interests from fellow Premiership side with Gerard Houllier the latest to join the frey.

Rovers boss Steve Kean who claims he has succeeded in convincing the powerful centre-back to remain at the club, now has to sweat over Samba’s availability for the rest of this campaign while Villa ponders over an offer.