According to the latest reports from the Chronicle, Sunderland have their eyes on signing several trialists including former Burnley striker Tinashe Chakwana. Reports earlier from the Herald (Zimbabwe edition) had claimed that the Black Cats have already signed the striker. However, there have been no official announcements made yet, so we think that the club is still only eyeing the possibility of signing the Zimbabwean forward.
The 20-year-old striker is currently a free agent after the Premier League side Burnley allowed his contract to run out this summer. The Black Cats have made some smart signings for their youth team in the past few weeks, and we think that Chakwana is also likely being seen as an option for the Sunderland u-23 side.
Burnley’s academy manager on Chakwana
The striker was even compared with former Sunderland forward Jermain Defoe. Burnley’s academy manager Jon Pepper had lavished huge praise on the young forward last year as he scored four goals in a game. Pepper had said (Burnley Express), ”He’s got a lot to offer. When he’s on his game, playing up there and down the middle, he really closes problems. He plays off the shoulder, comes short, gets it into his feet, a little bit like Jermain Defoe. He can be a good finisher when he’s on it.”
Sunderland have already signed the likes of Algerian goalkeeper Ahmed Abdelkader and defenders Michael Collins and Ruben Sammut for their u-23 side and Chakwana seems to be next on the list.
What can Chakwana offer and is he worth having at the club?
As mentioned by Burnley’s academy manager, the 20-year-old likes to make runs from the shoulder of the defenders in between the channels. The striker’s standout asset is his pace and acceleration, and his sudden burst of energy can trouble a lot of defenders. He still needs to improve on the physical aspect of his game and finishing to be considered for the first team.
Will Grigg is a similar player in the first team, and Chakwana would hope that he could impress while playing for the u-23 side. The striker does have the potential to break into the senior squad this season as his pace and movement can trouble the defenders in the League One. It remains to be seen now whether Sunderland would offer him a deal at the club. We think that he is worth a punt on a free transfer.
