Rangers and 25 rivals enter a transfer battle royale for summer's must have as beaming chairman raves about him
Winger Poku is one of a number of summer targets interesting Russell Martin
Barry Fry has warned Rangers they face a battle with 25 clubs across Europe if they want to land Kwame Poku.
But the Peterborough director of football admits Gers could get a £10m diamond for buttons should they win the race for the Ghana international.
Winger Poku is one of a number of summer targets interesting Russell Martin with Leicester City defender Connor Coady in talks over a move to Govan while Swansea's Harry Darling, Westerlo striker Matija Frigan and Maccabi Tel Aviv striker Dor Turgeman have all been linked.
Poku could be the perfect fit to replace Vaclav Cerny, who has been priced out of a permanent move to Ibrox after his loan spell in Govan last season.
The 23-year-old netted 12 goals and added eight assists in 27 League One games for Posh last season and also helped lift the Vertu Football League Trophy at Wembley against Birmingham who were understood to be leading the race for his signature until recently.
Peterborough bosses hope Poku - signed from Colchester for £250,000 in 2021 - chooses to stay in England where the compensation tribunal for under 24 players is of a higher value than the FIFA regulated version for cross border moves.
And Fry, who insists Poku is destined for the Premier League one day, said he has a list of suitors spanning some of the biggest leagues in Europe.
The Peterborough stalwart told Mail Sport: 'Kwame's out of contract and to my knowledge he's speaking to 26 clubs, home and abroad, and he'll go wherever he wants to go.
'I spoke to him on Friday morning but he's not decided where he wants to go at the minute.
'He's such an exciting player. Wherever he goes, he'll be a fan's favourite.
'He spent a couple of years at Colchester and we took a punt on him. We have had a lot of offers for him that we've turned down because we wanted to get promotion.
'Now he has the choice.
'I've had loads of clubs from Portugal, Belgium, Germany on about him as well as loads of clubs in England.
'I was asking clubs for £5 million and £5 million in add-ons when they were interested previously.
'He has that potential, he's that good a player.'
Should Poku choose to leave England for either Govan or Europe in the coming weeks then the compensation fee will be decided by the standard FIFA regulations. Similar to the deal that saw Joe Aribo move from Charlton to Ibrox six years ago for just £300,000.
Fry said: 'Yeah, we'd get some from FIFA. We'd get some, but it wouldn't be ideal for us.
'It would be FIFA working out what we paid for him and what offers we've had for him and all that.
'I've never been in that situation, so I don't know whether it'll be a pound or a million. You know what I mean? I ain't got a clue.
'We would definitely prefer him to stay in England, that's for sure.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
39 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Kwame Poku breaks silence on why he chose QPR over Rangers as he makes ‘next level' claim
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) KWAME POKU has revealed why he chose Queen's Park Rangers over Glasgow Rangers. The Peterborough United Player of the Year was one of Russell Martin's key transfer targets before he opted for a move to Loftus Road instead. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 1 Kwame Poku speaking to QPR TV after sealing his move Credit: QPR Poku, 23, was unveiled by the Championship side as their latest summer signing this afternoon in a major blow to the new Ibrox gaffer. The QPR social media admin rubbed salt into the wounds by trolling the Light Blues with an official announcement which read: "Kwame Poku signs for THE Rangers", followed by a winking face emoji. The Ghana international, who scored 12 goals and provided eight assists in EFL League One last year, has made the step up a division after being a standout in the third tier last season. But he also had the option of European football at Ibrox, with Martin keen to bring him in as a direct replacement for Vaclav Cerny. Poku lifted the lid on his decision to snub Gers in his first interview after becoming a QPR player. Asked why he chose the Loftus Road side, Poku said: "I think speaking to the manager, and speaking to everyone here, the project they are building here excites me and I want to be part of taking QPR to the next level. "When I was speaking to (new QPR boss) Julien Stephan he was talking about where he sees me fitting in and where he thinks I can influence the game. That's what really attracted me. "Being 23 turning 24, I'm not quite young anymore so I want to come in and make my mark from the jump." Chief executive Christian Nourry claimed his side fended off competition from across Europe to land the wide-man. He said: "His decision to join the football club today in the face of interest from Europe-competing teams abroad and Championship teams with significantly bigger budgets than us is a fantastic validation of the direction we are moving in, including a specialised focus on individual player development." New Rangers chiefs Andrew Cavenagh and Paraag Marathe's first interview Legendary Peterborough chief Barry was hopeful Poku would choose to make another English club his next home, as it meant Posh would receive a bigger development fee than if he moved across the border. And current club chairman Darragh MacAnthony said: "I am delighted that Kwame has decided to join a club whereby the football club secured a solid transfer fee and a fantastic sell-on clause to continue to share financially in his success in going to the top. "We wish Kwame and his family nothing but the best for the future." Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
South American clubs still lack killer instinct, say FIFA experts
MIAMI, June 28 (Reuters) - The gulf between South American and European teams may not be as wide as expected at the Club World Cup, but a clear gap still exists in their efficiency in front of goal, according to FIFA technical experts. Arsene Wenger, FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development, and Juergen Klinsmann, former Germany and U.S. national team coach, were speaking at a round table on Saturday as the tournament enters its knockout phase. "At the start of the competition, many opponents seemed to fear playing against the European teams," Wenger said. "But as things progressed - especially the Brazilians - they began to realise it might not be so different after all." Flamengo and Botafogo beat European teams during the group phase of the 32-team competition, with the latter's 1-0 victory over European champions Paris St Germain standing out. Wenger said growing belief, especially among Brazilian sides, has shifted the dynamic heading into the last 16. "Maybe it's also because they've gained the confidence to do it. That shift in mindset could mean we'll see a different Brazil in the knockout stage than we saw in the group phase," he added. The Frenchman highlighted the influence of Filipe Luis, whose Flamengo side showed what Wenger called the most European tactical profile among South American sides at the tournament. "Filipe has ... played in Europe, and you can see that in the way his team approaches the game," Wenger said. Wenger and Klinsmann said South American clubs were quickly closing the gap in infrastructure and preparation. "When we visited the teams, we saw delegations of up to 100 people - support staff, analysts, advisors," Wenger said. "With squads of 23 to 35 players, these clubs are now fully professional in every department. That level of preparation allows teams to learn quickly." The key difference, however, remains in execution. "In the final third, European clubs are simply more clinical," Wenger said. Klinsmann agreed, saying the real divide lies in mentality. "Experience is also a big part of quality," he said. "When is a club like Pachuca or Monterrey (of Mexico) playing in a tournament like this?" Drawing on his time as U.S. national coach, Klinsmann stressed the importance of testing players outside their comfort zones. "That's why I always said, 'Get us into Copa America. Get us into Europe'. That's the kind of competition that develops a winning mentality," he said. "If this tournament were held again next year, Pachuca would be a different team - more confident, more refined. "But they have to be more clinical. When you're in the box, it's your head that makes the decision, not just your feet. And that's the difference." With the round of 16 underway on Saturday, analysts said the knockout stages would offer a clearer picture of how much ground South American teams have made up, tactically and psychologically. "We might see very different attitudes now," Wenger said. Flamengo face Bayern Munich on Sunday and Inter Milan meet Fluminense on Monday.
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
Rangers owners 49ers get their chequebooks out for £22m bill as mega cost of World Cup hosting duties revealed
The 49ers Enterprises investment group have taken control of Rangers - but the American football giants will also have to fork out for the 2026 World Cup Rangers fans are dreaming of a glorious future under the banner of the 49ers Enterprises investment group – but the Ibrox club aren't all they're spending their money on. New Ibrox chairman Andrew Cavenagh has pledged to immediately inject £20million into the football department to help Russell Martin shape his squad ahead of the new season. Lyall Cameron has joined Gers from Dundee while full back Max Aarons has completed a loan switch from Bournemouth. And more are expected to follow with Leicester City defender Conor Coady in talks over a move north of the border while the likes of Dor Turgeman and Matija Frigan have been heavily linked. After years of turmoil, the Light Blues now look to be in good hands on the financial side of things, with health tycoon Cavenagh and vice chairman Paraag Marathe now working alongside CEO Patrick Stewart. 49ers Enterprises - who are the investment arm of the famed American Football (NFL) team San Francisco 49ers - also own Leeds United, and are set to splash the cash even further this summer to ensure the Yorkshire team enjoy a successful season back in the Premier League. But reports across the pond also now claim that 49ers chiefs could spent up to $30million (£21.9million) to host six matches at next year's FIFA World Cup. The 49ers will open their doors for six matches at the Levi's Stadium in Santa, Clara, California as the biggest show in town hits North America. Yardbarker state that hosting those games will cost the city $50million (£36.4million) and that 49ers will not be able to use taxpayer money to pay the bill. They add that in turn, FIFA will contribute $13million (£9.4million) of the overall figure and with the state of California coughing up $7- 8.5 million (£5-6million), the 49ers will have to front the rest of the bill, a total of around $30m (£22m). On top of that, the mega franchise are also in the midst of renovating Levi's Stadium ahead of the finals at reported cost of $200 million (£145.7million). As well as the World Cup, the Calafornia team will also host the Superbowl on February 8, 2026. It is the first time the Levi's Stadium has hosted the world famous event since 2015 and only the third time the sporting landmark has ever been held in the San Francisco Bay Area. Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also on WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
