Chimbonda staying at Sunderland, agent says

Pascal Chimbonda wants to stay at Sunderland and force his way back into the first-team reckoning, according to his agent.

The right-back – who signed a three-year deal in July when he joined for an undisclosed fee from Tottenham – has failed to figure in the Wearsiders’ last four games and subsequently been linked with a move to Lyon in the January transfer window.

However, Willie McKay has insisted there has been no contact with the French champions, who last night booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a 2-1 win at Fiorentina.

McKay told The Sun: “Roy Keane picks the team but Pascal’s quite happy at Sunderland and I believe he will stay in the Premier League.”