Rangers sign Samba and Tottenham duo

QPR predictably had a busy transfer deadline day, completing the club-record signing of Chris Samba and bringing in Jermaine Jenas and Andros Townsend from Tottenham.

And there were farcical scenes when Peter Odemwingie, believing the R’s were signing him from West Brom, arrived in west London despite the two clubs failing to agree a deal.

Albion released a statement making it clear the forward did not have permission to hold talks with Rangers, who promptly insisted he had not done so, and the move did not materialise.

Former Blackburn defender Samba, 28, completed a medical on Wednesday and signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with the option of a further year, joining for a fee in the region of £12m.

QPR missed out when he joined Anzhi Makhachkala last year but Samba was unhappy in Russia, and the Loftus Road regime had long been planning a move to capture him in this transfer window.

He made his name at Blackburn under Mark Hughes, who was hopeful of eventually bringing him back to England.

Rangers retained their interest following Hughes’ sacking as manager, while current boss Harry Redknapp is an admirer of the 28-year-old and discussed signing him while in charge at Tottenham.

Redknapp waited to discover who his former club were willing to make available, having discussed potential deals for a number of Spurs’ fringe players in recent weeks.

In the end he was given the green light to take former England internationals Jenas and David Bentley, as well as 21-year-old winger Townsend.

A move for Bentley, who was considered largely because of his crossing ability, was ruled out when Rangers were unable to agree a deal with Stoke for Peter Crouch.

Jenas, who turns 30 next month, has signed an 18-month contract and Townsend has joined on loan until the end of the season.

Townsend, an England Under-21 international, has had eight loan spells with Football League clubs, some of which were ended prematurely.

Earlier in the day, Palermo completed the signing of QPR midfielder Alejandro Faurlin.

He joined the Italian club on loan for the rest of the season ahead of a possible permanent move there in the summer, when his future will be assessed.

A popular member of Rangers’ promotion-winning side of 2011, Faurlin was recently told he was not in Redknapp’s plans.

And as the deadline approached, DJ Campbell was hoping to finalise a transfer from QPR to Blackburn, who made him an offer as the striker was close to joining Hull City.

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