Les Gones are without both of their right-backs, Anthony Reveillere and Francois Clerc, for some time after they sustained serious knee injuries and coach Claude Puel has admitted he is in the hunt for a replacement.

Chimbonda, 29, admits he could not turn down Lyon if they came calling and told Aujourd'hui Sport: "Who would refuse Lyon? Me, I would go there on foot to sign (for them)."

He added: "For the moment, they haven't called me. But I do not hide the fact that I am happy a big club is interested in me.

"With Lyon, you get the Champions League and the Ligue 1 title every year. OL, for a player like me, would be a very good solution."

Roger Boli, Chimbonda's agent, sees the one-time France cap joining the reigning seven-time Ligue 1 champions in the very near future.

"We are waiting for the opinion of the coach (Puel), that is all," Boli told Le Parisien.

"To play in the Champions League, you can't turn that down.

"It is absolutely possible to see him go to Lyon in the days to come."

Chimbonda, who signed a three-year deal at Sunderland in July when he joined for an undisclosed fee from Tottenham, has failed to figure in the Wearsiders' last four games.