Roker Roundup: Report says Sunderland have signed Zimbabwean ex-Burnley striker Tinashe Chakwana

Striker reportedly signs

Sunderland have reportedly signed recently released 20-year-old Burnley striker Tinashe Chakwana.

According to The Herald of Zimbabwe and Facebook page ‘Zimbabwe Foreign Legion Official’ both claim that the young striker has signed for Sunderland - likely for the club’s under-23 development squad.

The Wigan-born Zimbabwean forward has been compared to Jermain Defoe by his former Burnley academy coach Jon Pepper:

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 in to his feet, a little bit like Jermain Defoe. He can be a good finisher when he’s on it.

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Midfielder explains Sunderland snub

League One rivals Portsmouth signed Rangers midfielder Ross McCrorie on a season-long loan yesterday, with the South Coast club also having an option to purchase.

Speaking after sealing his move to Fratton Park, McCrorie revealed that Sunderland attempted to hijack the move at the last minute.

According to the 21-year-old, Sunderland made their move as he was set to undergo his medical with Pompey but the Scottish under-21 international had already decided that he was making the right move:

I became aware of the interest a couple of weeks ago along with a lot of other clubs.

Pompey was the one which stood out to me, though, after speaking to the manager.

Sunderland came in for me and wanted me to sign, but I just felt that Pompey was the right fit.

Sunderland came in when I was about to do a medical. They tried to sweep in and get things sorted, but I thought Pompey was the best fit.

We just missed out last season and there is a good group of players here who are going to be up there challenging.

Photo by Ian Rutherford/PA Images via Getty Images

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Borini linked with Newcastle move

AC Milan recently appointed former Sampdoria manager Marco Giampaolo as their new manager and his arrival reportedly means the end of Fabio Borini’s spell at the Serie A club.

Gazzeta Dello Sport reporter Nicolo Schira claims that the former Sunderland striker is not part of Giampaolo’s plans and will be moved on this summer.

Newcastle United are one of the clubs linked with the Italian international but Ligue 1 side Bordeaux are also in the running, a move that would see Borini link up with another former Sunderland forward in Josh Maja.

Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images

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Oxford manager already preparing for Sunderland test

Sunderland take on Oxford United in the opening game of the League One Season in August and the U’s manager Karl Robinson is already preparing for the fixture.

Robinson explained how his side’s first game of pre-season will be against Steven Gerrard’s Rangers at Ibrox, a fixture that will help him prepare his side for the trip to the Stadium of Light next month:

The first game of pre-season for us is against Rangers at Ibrox and the first game of the season is against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

It will replicate that for us and we know that both of those grounds can become cauldrons.

It was an opportunity we jumped at because of the history at Rangers and the fact that so many great moments have happened at that ground.

I actually had a coffee with Alex Rae the other day and we were speaking about the mottos and the history of Rangers and their fans - it’s a way of life for them and they can’t live without football.

Photo by James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images

Photo by James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images