Rangers watch 'unplayable' forward net hat-trick as Gers consider transfer loophole
11/12/2024 08:25 AM
Rangers scouts were in attendance to watch Kwame Poku score a League One hat-trick for English side Peterborough United.
The Gers are one of several clubs tailing the Ghanaian international winger, 23, who has been on explosive form for the Posh this season.
With Kwame Poku impressing watching Rangers scouts by lashing in a treble in the 6-1 rout of Cambridge United at the weekend, speculation over the winger's future has begun to rise.
But the Ibrox side will hope to take advantage of a transfer loophole to hold off competition from a number of English Championship and Premier League clubs.
Rangers scouts watch Kwame Poku
Rangers News can exclusively reveal that there were Ibrox scouts in attendance to watch Poku rattle in that hat-trick at the Weston Homes Stadium, formerly known as London Road.
But Rangers were not the only potential suitors in the stands, with a number of unconfirmed Championship and Premier League talent spotters watching on.
The situation is made even more intriguing by the fact Poku is out of contract at the end of the season and free to discuss terms with a new club come January.
Given Poku has been trained in England and is only 23, should clubs south of the border move for the winger then they must negotiate a development fee with Peterborough or risk a tribunal.
However, the rules only apply when players move to clubs within their own borders.
This means Rangers can take advantage of this cross-border loophole and snap up Doku for a cut-price, nominal fee.
Rangers could look to strike a pre-contract agreement with Doku in January and then negotiate a cut-price winter transfer as a notoriously stubborn Peterborough look to get a return on the winger.
Alternatively, Rangers could sign a deal with Doku and pick the talented winger up for a small development fee come the end of the season.
The same rules are why Rangers are currently locked in talks with Aberdeen over the transfer of Connor Barron with the lingering threat of a tribunal hanging over the switch.
Posh admit keeping 'unplayable' winger will be 'tough'
Rangers' hunt for a new left-wing addition ahead of the January transfer window has been well documented and Kwame Poku appears to have turned heads at Ibrox.
The Ghanaian winger, who earned his solitary cap for the country in March 2021, has been on tremendous form for Peterborough this season.
Netting three goals against Cambridge United, it brings Poku's tally for the season to ten in all competitions and it's a record which is turning heads across the country.
The winger also has seven assists in all competitions.
As quoted by the Peterborough Telegraph, Posh manager Darren Ferguson has waxed lyrical about Kwame Poku and has been discussing the winger's contract situation.
Ferguson has described the attacker as 'unplayable' and claims Peterborough have already offered Kwame Poku a new contract after turning down bids in the summer.
But Ferguson has also admitted that convincing Poku to sign a new deal 'will be very tough' with Peterborough expecting more bids for the Ghanaian ahead of the January window.
"Kwame is just unplayable at the moment," said Ferguson. "I would hate to play against him.
"He needs to give someone else a chance of winning player of the month. They'll have to rename it the Kwame Poku Trophy!
"The boy is unplayable at the moment, he's just so good. He deserves all the plaudits and all the credit.
"That’s why we had to keep him in the summer. There were offers for him and there will be more offers for him.
"We're trying to keep him and have offered him a new contract. Me and the chairman are trying our best, but it will be very tough and you can see why.
"If you watch him, the stats don't lie. I'm just enjoying working with the boy. He will admit though that it wasn't just about him yesterday as it was a very good team performance."
