Swindon Town have been pursuing striker Kabongo Tshimanga from Peterborough over the summer, looking to secure a loan deal.
The player is on the transfer list at London Road, and Mark Kennedy is a keen admirer, seeing him as the perfect way to add goals to his Robins’ side. They may not be in the market for a permanent purchase, but a loan deal has been proposed, which Peterborough has rejected.
Now, via his Hard Truths podcast, Posh supremo Darragh MacAnthony has admitted they have rejected the bid from Swindon, but in true MacAnthony style, he has explained why. He confirmed Swindon made an attempt to take the 27-year-old on loan but only offered to cover 32% of his current salary.
“Our position with Kabongo is clear,” said MacAnthony. “We are asking for less money than we paid for him and offers from two clubs have been accepted. The Scottish club and Swindon haven’t offered enough.
“We are trying to do the best for our club and the player. He should go into the National League and score 30 goals in a season and then he would get back in the League.”
MacAnthony went on to describe Swindon’s offer as derisory, while the Scottish club remained unnamed. However, the Daily Record suggested that Championship side Partick Thistle are interested in the striker.
Tshimanga came through the youth ranks at MK Dons, but didn’t score for his parent club. He had numerous loan spells with the likes of Aldershot, Chelmsford, Corby, Nuneaton and Chesham before being released. He joined Lincolnshire outfit Boston United, scoring 12 times in 38 outings, before a move to Oxford City.
He exploded into life with Oxford, netting 37 times in just 54 appearances, before another remarkable ratio of 41 in 88 for Boreham Wood. Chesterfield were next, and a further 33 in 53 outings, which prompted Peterborough to snap him up in 2022.
He has struggled at London Road, with no goals and only a handful of appearances, but he did net his first goals for an EFL last season, scoring twice for Fleetwood Town, albeit both in the EFL Trophy.
Writer’s View
There’s a feeling that Tshimanga gets its goals, but like Ricky Miller, another Posh import from non-league, stepping up has been an issue. Swindon would be taking a risk on the striker, as he hasn’t scored a goal in the Football League before, so their measured bid might not be as much derisory as sensible.
The Peterborough campaign machine always goes into full effect at this stage of the season, and MacAnthony talking up the player’s value is a habit we’ve seen repeated with different players year after year. His true value is certainly not what they paid for him – he’s flopped in League One, that’s fact, and you don’t accrue value if you’re a flop.
Scotland might be the best move if the Jags can find the right money for him. The Scottish Championship has an eclectic mix of teams and players from the English levels, and it might be a new environment in which Tshimanga can thrive.
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