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Aston Villa: The contract wait for trial defender Christopher Samba

By Josh Tonti

TELFORD, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Jordan Veretout, Jordan Amavi and Christopher Samba of Aston Villa look on during the Pre-Season Friendly between AFC Telford United and Aston Villa at New Bucks Head Stadium on July 12, 2017 in Telford, England. (Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)
TELFORD, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Jordan Veretout, Jordan Amavi and Christopher Samba of Aston Villa look on during the Pre-Season Friendly between AFC Telford United and Aston Villa at New Bucks Head Stadium on July 12, 2017 in Telford, England. (Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images) /
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Veteran central defender Chris Samba has been training with Aston Villa since February. Then why, has he not received an official contract just two weeks before the beginning of the league season?

The Christopher Samba saga at Aston Villa is verging on bizarre.

Samba, 33, a veteran of the Premier League, is attempting to resurrect his career in the claret and blue. That began earlier this year when Samba and Panathinaikos mutually terminated his contract to the Greek side on January 20th, 2017.

As a favor to the ex-Congo international, Steve Bruce invited Samba to train with the reserves. Perhaps he was doing a friend a favor, or perhaps Bruce was keen on an extended look. It turns out, it’s most definitely the latter.

Villa is four pre-season matches into the season and Samba has since started two of them. It would be wise for one to believe Chris Samba is in the first-team plans.

Then why have the club and player not announced an official signing of a contract?

It may have to do with the difficulty in moving certain reserve defenders. Currently, Aston Villa are prepared to utilize John Terry, James Chester, and Nathan Baker as the first three center backs, sometimes in a back-three itself. The fourth spot, one would argue, is occupied by Tommy Elphick.

However, Elphick is thought to be on his way to Birmingham City. The Birmingham Mail has stated as much. After that, Villa Micah Richards, who likewise, Steve Bruce would like to move on from. Richards is a disaster in both the right back and center back positions. Finding a suitor for his wages has proven difficult.

Next: Aly Cissokho departing for Turkey

Easah Suliman and Kevin Toner represent the youth reserves, but a loan move might be on the table for one or both this season.

The simple truth is: Chris Samba was promised a first-team contract, otherwise he wouldn’t still be at Aston Villa for months. Dr. Tony Xia, in tandem with management, need to move Elphick and/or Richards before Samba can be officially announced.

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