FOOTBALL

CHIMBONDA HAS ROVERS MEDICAL

ON THE MOVE: Pascal Chimbonda

Thursday August 27,2009

By Julia White for Express.co.uk

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TOTTENHAM defender Pascal Chimbonda is on the verge of a move to Blackburn after travelling to Lancashire for a medical this afternoon.

With left-back Stephen Warnock set for a transfer to Aston Villa manager Sam Allardyce has moved to find a replacement before letting the former Liverpool player leave.

The Rovers boss said: “Stephen has had permission to talk to Aston Villa and we have got Pascal Chimbonda talking here.

“I think we have to get a replacement before we let Stephen go so if Pascal gets done here I’m sure Stephen will get sorted out.”

Allardyce, however, has dismissed links with Middlesbrough left-back Andrew Taylor.

Despite the 30-year-old Frenchman, who has extensive Premier League experience after spells at Wigan, Spurs and Sunderland, making his name as a right-back Allardyce believes he offers options elsewhere.

Having signed Lars Jacobsen and Michel Salgado this summer Blackburn have plenty of cover on the right of defence but are light in the centre and on the left.

Chris Samba and Gael Givet are the only two fit centre-backs with captain Ryan Nelsen currently sidelined with a knee injury while Warnock’s impending departure leaves 21-year-old Martin Olsson as the only recognised left-back, although Givet has also played there.

“It is the versatility I have chosen to go with rather than look for perhaps an out-and-out left-back,” said Allardyce of his decision to bring in Chimbonda.

“He has huge experience of Premier League football and he is eager and ready to get away from Tottenham because he has not played enough games for them and he just wants to play football.”

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