Chimbonda's move to Lyon is off

Pascal Chimbonda's possible move from Sunderland to Lyon is now "dead", according to the player's agent. Chimbonda issued a "come-and-get-me" plea to Lyon in late November, with speculation mounting the French champions were about to make an offer for the Black Cats defender. Les Gones have been without both of their right-backs, Anthony Reveillere and Francois Clerc, for some time due to serious knee injuries and the coach Claude Puel has admitted he is in the hunt for a replacement. Chimbonda, 29, had appeared to be the ideal candidate, but the player's agent Roger Boli now believes his client is set to remain on Wearside. "It is dead, there has been nothing new from Lyon," Boli explained in Le Parisien. "The problem Pascal has had is simply a communication problem within the club. We're waiting, this situation will certainly move on." Chimbonda, who signed a three-year deal at the Stadium of Light in July when he joined for an undisclosed fee from Tottenham, has failed to figure in new coach Ricky Sbragia's side since his first game in charge — a 1-0 defeat to Manchester United on December 6. *PA Sport