Christopher Samba says he wants to leave Blackburn in an effort to progress his career, despite signing a new five-year contract last season.

The defender, talking to L'Equipe, appeared to contradict his manager Steve Kean's assertion that the club do not want to sell him by suggesting they were currently talking to interested parties.

"I know there are discussions with some clubs," said Samba, who has repeatedly been linked with Arsenal.

"If a good opportunity arises, I want to seize it. It is necessary that the club understands that I want to go one step further. I hope they will not put a stick in the wheels. It's been four and a half years I have been at Blackburn and two years I have played in relegation battles."

Samba made similar comments in the January transfer window only to extend his contract with Blackburn until 2015 just a couple of weeks later.

On Wednesday Kean said: "We don't have to sell him. He signed a five-year contract in the last window. He's one of the players we would like to keep.

"I said earlier this year you are always going to have interest in your good players. It means they're playing well and you're playing well as a team. We're going to try and hold on to all our good players."