CHIMBONDA DECISION FOR ALLARDYCE

Rovers confirmed Chimbonda had signed a two-year on Thursday night - one of several deals to go through on a day of swift business as the end of the transfer window beckons.

Sam Allardyce bought Chimbonda as a replacement for left-back Stephen Warnock, who moved to Aston Villa for a fee believed to be around £7million.

Other transfer moves included Stoke's acquisition of defender Robert Huth from Middlesbrough, Everton's agreement to sign Sylvain Distin from Portsmouth - pending a medical on Thursday night - and Fulham's confirmation of midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi's arrival on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee from Golden Arrows.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce also gave midfielders Carlos Edwards and Grant Leadbitter permission to talk to Ipswich.

Allardyce had lined up former Wigan and Sunderland defender Chimbonda when Villa first approached Rovers about Warnock but wanted the transfers to occur simultaneously.

He said: "We've got the deal done. We've got an experienced player who is desperate to play football again, having missed it at Spurs."

The only question that remains is Chimbonda's most likely position for Rovers.

"We all know his favourite position is right-back. We are well covered there, but he can play centre-back and left-back," Allardyce reasoned.