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Chimbonda set for Sunderland move

19/07/2008

Tottenham full-back Pascal Chimbonda looks set to sign for Sunderland after meeting with Black Cats manager Roy Keane.

Keane has made enquiries about four Tottenham players - Chimbonda, Steed Malbranque, Teemu Tainio and Younes Kaboul - but the former Wigan player is the first to hold talks with the Sunderland manager.

"I travelled to meet Keane on Saturday at Sunderland's training ground," Chimbonda said. "I was extremely impressed with what he had to say.

"Keane's honesty and openness really were fantastic and I particularly like the plans he has for Sunderland. The opportunity excites me and I hope he was impressed with what I had to say."

French international full-back Chimbonda joined Wigan for £500,000 in 2005 from French club Bastia, and the 29-year-old joined Spurs in controversial circumstances from Wigan for £4.5 million in August 2006.

His opportunities became limited when Tottenham signed Alan Hutton from Glasgow Rangers for £8 million in January, and with Gareth Bale returning to full fitness, Chimbonda could be facing a season on the substitutes bench at White Hart Lane.

Should Chimbonda decide to ply his trade at the Stadium of Light, he may well be joined by his Spurs team-mates Malbranque and Tainio, who are due to meet with Keane this week.

The Sunderland boss is also keen on Kaboul, but the central defender's agent said this week that he wouldn't join the Black Cats, "even if there was an earthquake."