Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce has decided against handing recent trialist Chinedu Obasi a contract at the Stadium of Light. The Nigerian has played for Schalke and Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga but is not thought by Big Sam to be good enough for a Premier League relegation fight.
According to BBC Sport, a spokesman for the Wearside club has said that Obasi’s trial was “successful”, but he won’t be staying on at the club as the management do not feel that his impact in the side would be instantaneous enough to help keep the Black Cats in the Premier League.
Obasi has been without a club since the end of 2014-15, having been released by Schalke after averaging just three appearances per year in his three years with the club.
Since 2009-10, Obasi has made 85 appearances for Hoffenheim and Schalke, but only scored 12 goals; the last time he scored in the Bundesliga was in 2012-13.
Sunderland currently have ex-Tottenham Hotspur striker Jermain Defoe, as well as Scottish international Steven Fletcher up front along with Fabio Borini, so Obiang would have been up against some proven quality had he been given the chance to play for the Black Cats.
