New City boss Hughes returns to Blackburn for defender Samba

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Skipper Richard Dunne has held productive talks with executive director Garry Cook and City are optimistic he will reject lucrative offers from Portsmouth and Tottenham, but Hughes still wants to strengthen at the back.

Target: Christopher Samba

Giant French-born Congo centre half Samba was one of Hughes's most successful buys after he arrived in a knockdown £400,000 deal from Hertha Berlin in the January window last year.

Blackburn refuse to be rushed into naming Hughes's successor, despite the clamour for Alan Shearer to be installed.

Shearer and MK Dons boss Paul Ince figure on Blackburn's shortlist after Ewood Park directors met yesterday to consider 40-strong roster of candidates including Alan Irvine, Peter Reid and Zenit St Petersburg manager Dick Advocaat. Ince is also expected to talk to Leicester this week.