Chimbonda ponders Black Cats move

Jul 20 2008 by Neil Farrington, Sunday Sun

PASCAL CHIMBONDA says he’s “honoured” to be courted by Sunderland . . .

But will delay a decision on joining the Black Cats while other clubs ponder a move for him.

Newcastle and Everton have made their interest in Chimbonda known according to his agent Roger Boli.

And while the Spurs full-back admits that he was “extremely impressed” with Roy Keane during talks with the Cats boss, he will consider his options over the next 48 hours or so.

But Chimbonda’s Tottenham team-mate Teemu Tainio is ready to join the Black Cats after agreeing personal terms and passing a medical on Wearside yesterday.

Steed Malbranque and Younes Kaboul were also in the North East for talks, and while Kaboul has turned Sunderland down, Keane remains hopeful of landing Malbranque to complete a triple Spurs swoop.

“Roy Keane was a great player — Pascal was a fan of his — and is a good manager and a good man,” said Boli. “We were honoured to have talked to him.

“Now we need to go away and think about everything for a few days.”

Chimbonda himself added: “I can confirm that I travelled to meet Roy Keane at Sunderland’s training ground. I was extremely impressed with what he had to say.

“His honesty and openness really were fantastic; I particularly like the plans he has . . . the opportunity excites me and I hope he was impressed with what I had to say.”

News of Keane’s interest in Malbranque was broken by the Sunday Sun last weekend, and another Keane target revealed by us — Cork City midfielder David Meyler — is Sunderland bound in a £150,000 move.