Fulham hope to make Chris Samba their first signing of the January transfer window but the Blackburn defender wants assurances over Mark Hughes’s future first.

Samba handed in a transfer request at Ewood Park recently in protest at the sacking of manager Sam Allardyce and was stripped of the club captaincy.

Although elsewhere it is being reported that Blackburn manager Steve Kean has tipped key defender Christopher Samba to stay at the club, saying that the player has not officially demanded a move.

Hughes also wants a centre forward, with Cluj’s Lacina Traore a target, but will resist the temptation to take injury-prone Manchester City forward Roque Santa Cruz on loan.

Bobby Zamora is expected back from a leg break at the end of next month.