Swindon Town head coach Mark Kennedy has expressed interest in signing Peterborough United striker Kabongo Tshimanga on loan for the season.
The former Lincoln City manager ended his first game at Swindon with a draw this weekend, with the team securing the tie against Chesterfield, League Two newcomers, thanks to a goal from their sole shot on target. Interestingly, Tshimanga made a name for himself at Chesterfield before joining Posh.
Kennedy acknowledged that Swindon has tried to sign the 27-year-old, who scored 33 goals in just 53 games for Chesterfield between 2021 and 2023.
“We would be thrilled to have him,” Kennedy, who has previously managed Macclesfield in League Two, said. “We’d like to bring him in if possible, and there’s no point in pretending otherwise.”
“I would guess that we’re among many teams interested in him, given his impressive goal-scoring record and the significant fees he’s commanded in the past.
“I don’t know the details of his situation—it’s not my concern—but as with any top striker, if someone like him is available, we are definitely interested. We really rate him.”
This interest isn’t new; journalist Pete O’Rourke had already reported that the Robins were considering a loan move for the player. However, Kennedy’s confirmation is the first official acknowledgment of this interest. Kennedy’s team will face Crawley in the League Cup tonight.
The striker is listed for transfer at London Road, a standard practice for players entering the last year of their contract with Posh. Despite a total of 138 goals in 325 senior appearances, Tshimanga has struggled recently. He hasn’t scored in his last 13 matches for Posh and only netted twice in 20 games on loan at Fleetwood last season. Nevertheless, he did score four goals in six appearances during a second loan spell at Boreham Wood, helping them secure their position in the National League.
Writer’s View
Sometimes, a player just can’t make the leap. Ricky Miller is a prime example of a striker who thrived in the National League but struggled at higher levels. Similarly, Britt Assombalonga and Dwight Gayle had success in the Championship but found it challenging to perform consistently. All of these strikers have passed through Peterborough.
Tshimanga is a bit of an anomaly. He possesses the right attributes—speed, some power, and a sharp instinct for scoring—but these qualities haven’t translated well in the Football League. Despite being outstanding in lower divisions, with prolific performances at Boston, Boreham Wood, and Oxford City, he hasn’t replicated that success in the EFL.
Kennedy’s claim that Tshimanga has a ‘great goalscoring record’ is somewhat subjective, as most of those goals were scored in lower tiers. Furthermore, if Kennedy’s teams continue to offer low xG opportunities, as he did at Lincoln and in his first game at Swindon, any striker will struggle to find the net.