Aston Villa have taken ex-Premier League defender Chris Samba.
Christopher Samba
Aston Villa may have brought in eight signings in January, but the Birmingham Mail report that free agent defender Chris Samba has now joined the club on trial.
Manager Steve Bruce oversaw a January influx as Sam Johnstone, James Bree, Jacob Bedeau, Neil Taylor, Henri Lansbury, Conor Hourihane, Birkir Bjarnason and Scott Hogan all joined the club.
However, results haven’t improved, and Monday’s 2-0 defeat away at Newcastle United means it’s now seven defeats in eight league games since the start of 2017.
Now sitting just six points clear of the relegation zone, Villa boss Bruce will be looking nervouly over his shoulder, and he could make a move to tighten up his defence after some poor recent displays.
The Birmingham Mail report that free agent defender Chris Samba has joined up with the club on trial, as he looks to find a club having been released by Panathinaikos in January.
Samba, 32, was once a Premier League regular with Blackburn Rovers, making more than 150 league appearances for the club before two spells with Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala either side of a short stint with Queens Park Rangers.
Christopher Samba and Norwich’s Wes Hoolahan (R) in action
A giant, physically imposing centre back, Samba has struggled with injuries of late, but could help Villa given his free agent status and his knowledge of English football.
Since the reports emerged, Villa fans have taken to Twitter to give their views on the rumours, with some calling it ‘pathetic’ that Samba is being turned to now when Bruce should have signed a centre back in January.
Others simply can’t believe that Bruce is even looking at Samba given his record over recent years, but some feel that Samba can’t be worse than Tommy Elphick, and deserves a chance to shine having once impressed in the Premier League.
Do you think Samba would be a good signing for Villa?
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