Black Cats open Chimbonda talks

Sunderland target Pascal Chimbonda is on Wearside to open talks over a possible transfer from Tottenham.

The 29-year-old France international is understood to have arrived in the north-east with his representatives after the Black Cats were given permission to talk to him.

Chimbonda is one of four Spurs men – Steed Malbranque, Younes Kaboul and Teemu Tainio are the others – who were the subject of a joint bid by Sunderland which was approved on Thursday evening.

Manager Roy Keane, whose squad flew out to Portugal for a pre-season training camp yesterday, revealed earlier this week that he is yet to sit down with a player this summer to persuade him to join the club.

Sunderland are hoping for similar responses from the three remaining Tottenham players, although Kaboul’s agent Rudy Raba has insisted there is no chance of the Morocco-born player signing while Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp maintains an interest.