After missing out on a move for Carl Jenkinson due to personal terms despite agreeing a fee with Arsenal for the defender, Sam Allardyce has turned do another one of his former players.
Twitter: Sam Allardyce still not giving up on Carl Jenkinson and Patrick van Aaanholt. They have also talked to Patrice Evra and Christopher Samba. (@GraemeBailey)
According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Crystal Palace have held talks with Christopher Samba over a return to the Premier League this month.
Samba currently plays in Greece with Panathinaikos following a free transfer move in August from Dinamo Moscow but Allardyce wants to reunite with the centre-back at Selhurst Park.
The 32-year-old joined Blackburn Rovers in January 2007 for just £400,000 but it wasn’t until Allardyce took charge of the club in December 2008 when Samba really started to hit his stride in English football.
He spent two years working under Allardyce before Big Sam was sacked by Blackburn in December 2010. His form declined before making a lucrative £12m move to Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala in February 2012.
The Congolese defender did return to English football briefly in 2013 when QPR signed him in January 2013 before selling him back to Anzhi the following summer after they were relegated to the Championship.
Samba is an experienced pro who Allardyce knows very well and what knows what he can offer his Crystal Palace side. Only under contract until the end of the season, he could be a quick (and cheap) fix for the Eagles.
