Rangers have been joined in the hunt by two Premier League sides, alongside their Championship competition, for a League One stat leader.
Scottish top-flight side Rangers already seem well out of the chase for the league title North of the border, as they sit nine points behind Celtic and Aberdeen, who are tied for top spot after 11 games. The Europa League competitors are not a side that has necessarily struggled for goals this campaign, scoring 16 in 11 games, but that is inferior compared to their Glaswegian rivals total of 31.
These goalscoring issues appear to have been identified by Phillipe Clement, as he appears to have put himself on the list of potential destinations for one of England’s domestic goal contribution leaders.
Rangers put League One star on the shopping list.
According to TBR, the Scottish giants were one club in attendance to keep an eye on Peterborough United’s Kwame Poku, as he netted three goals in their 6-1 thrashing of rivals Cambridge United. Those six goals took Darren Ferguson one goal behind (31) the league leaders and top scorers, Wycombe Wanderers (32), despite the gap of 11 places and 11 points between the two.
They were not alone in watching the 23-year-old, as Southampton and Ipswich have joined the race for the winger, who is a hot commodity in League One with his current contract situation at London Road. Ferguson’s side has made a name for themselves, acquiring young players and selling them on for a profit or receiving sell-on clauses for their players, such as in the case of Ivan Toney. Poku’s situation now poses a new threat to the side, but they remain relaxed.
Rangers target one of the best in England.
Poku has been one of the standout performers in League One this year despite Peterborough’s lack of form, which leaves them 12th in the division. In recent years, the side have been promotion contenders, most notably falling to a historic collapse against Sheffield Wednesday after a 4-0 victory in the first leg. However, exits similar to the calibre of Poku have had a detrimental effect on the team; the 23-year-old has stepped up to replace the departed Ephram Mason-Clarke, who made his Championship move with Coventry City this summer.
Championship sides have been linked with the former Colchester United man, with John Eustace’s Blackburn Rovers noted as one potential destination in January. Rovers’ second-tier rivals, Burnley, have been touted as another team targeting a move for Poku, with Scott Parker’s side struggling to score themselves.
While Posh are reluctant to sell the talented youngster, who has more goal contributions than Cole Palmer and Erling Haaland this season, Premier League sides Southampton and Ipswich Town could signify a chance to secure more than the compensation for losing Poku at the end of his contract next summer, which they would be owed due to his age. The Saints have already done business with the League One side this season after they signed highly talented young centre-back Ronnie Edwards.