With Rangers taking a keen interest, the chairman of one of the clubs in England’s Football League stalwarts has got used to seeing representatives from Ibrox enter his midst in recent times.
While Rangers appear to be moving away from the English market – Nils Koppen is prioritising Scotland’s brightest young talent as well as bargain deals from abroad – Kwame Poku may be a talent worth breaking tradition for.
Especially with the winger’s contract due to expire this summer.
To say that Peterborough United missed Poku during his four-month absence due to a hamstring injury would be an understatement. With four goal contributions in his last three matches, the London-born Ghana international has shown very little rust with his sparkling return to action helping lift The Posh nine points clear of the relegation zone in League One.
Football correspondent Graeme Bailey exclusively told Rangers News in March that Rangers have not been put off by Kwame Poku’s injury issues.
What’s more, the former Colchester United speedster is understood to be keen on a move reminiscent of the deal which took Joe Aribo from Charlton Athletic to the blue side of Glasgow all those years ago.
Peterborough United chairman admits Rangers have watched Kwame Poku
A twinkle-toed right-winger who likes to cut in onto his favoured left boot, Poku now has eleven goals and assists apiece for a middling Peterborough outfit. That is despite missing a large portion of the campaign through that aforementioned hamstring issue.
Obviously, the expectation is that Poku could replace Vaclav Cerny following the expiry of his loan deal.
The Wolfsburg-owned attacker is keen to stay at Rangers. But, new owners or no new owners, that may not be possible amid a reported £7 million price-tag.
Speaking to Peterborough Today, meanwhile, Peterborough chairman Barry Fry confirms that both Old Firm clubs have made regular visits to London Road of late. However, he still expects Poku to stay this side of Hadrian’s Wall and instead link up with one of the teams in the upper echelons of England’s second tier.
Fry will certainly be praying that is the case, anyway.
Owner Darragh MacAnthony hopes to bring in £6 million for Poku via a tribunal. Rangers, due to cross-border transfer regulations, would not be required to stump up such a substantial fee if they were to win the race.
“A Championship club tried to force a deal through for Kwame in January, but he was injured at the time and they didn’t offer anything like what we wanted,” Fry explains.
“They were just trying to get ahead of the game as they knew there would be many more clubs after him in the summer. He is the best player in League One after all.
“Celtic and Rangers have been at most of our games this season, but I don’t believe Kwame will go to Scotland. He will more likely sign for a top end Championship club.”
Rangers eye potential Vaclav Cerny replacements
Rangers News understands that Rangers watched Kwame Poku slap in a hat-trick against Cambridge United in a 6-1 thrashing back in November, a few weeks before the injury which put his season on pause.
Other potential Vaclav Cerny replacements include Arif Aiman Hanapi, the free-scoring Malaysian starlet. Leeds United misfit Joe Gelhardt may come into the conversation again too, especially if the San Francisco 49ers add Ibrox to Elland Road under their footballing umbrella.
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Hanapi is in no rush to swap Asia for Scotland, though, feeling that he still has a lot to learn at just 22.
“My long-term goal is to continue to improve the quality of my game and continue to play at the highest level for [Johor Darul Ta’zim],” Hanapi said recently.
“I need to keep working hard to be where I am today. I think my level is still not enough, so I will continue to try and aim for a higher level.
“My dream since I was little was to become a successful soccer player. So far, I have received great support, especially from my parents, who have supported me and prayed for my success since I was little.
“The Sultan of Johor has been very supportive and played a role in my development at JDT as well.
“I will continue to work hard because my mentality is to always improve myself. My heroes and role models are my family members who always support me.”
