Chimbonda holds Cats talks
19 Jul 2008 - 12:11:36
France international Pascal Chimbonda's move to Sunderland has edged closer after the Tottenham defender opened talks with the Black Cats about a possible transfer to Wearside.
The 29-year-old former Wigan Athletic star is one of four Spurs players - Steed Malbranque, Younes Kaboul and Teemu Tainio are the others - who have all been linked with a move to the north-east.
Spurs coach Juande Ramos is believed to be willing to listen to offers for several members of his first-team squad and could be ready to let the quartet leave.
Full-back Chimbonda and winger Malbranque both made over 50 appearances each last season, while Kaboul and Tainio were peripheral members of the Spurs squad.
Sunderland boss Roy Keane had said earlier in the week of his transfer targets: "Of course we'd like the deals done as early as possible. It would have been nice to have had them in place by now but we just have to put up with it.
"I'm fairly confident that we'll have one or two new ones here over the next few days, to join us for the second part of our Portugal trip.
"I'm hopeful of getting five of six new faces in by the start of the season."