Birmingham City and Ipswich Town will be predicted by many to figure around the top end of the Championship next season. BCFC are only just coming up from League One, but they are no regular newly-promoted side.
The Blues have big finances behind them and have ambitions of disrupting the English football elite in the long run, though they have a lot of work to do to get to that level.
BCFC - Birmingham City players huddle
Image courtesy of: CAT GORYN/REUTERS.
Statement signing will be eyed this summer though, and one player heavily linked with a move to St. Andrew’s has been out of contract Peterborough United winger Kwame Poku.
Numerous other clubs have been linked with the Ghanaian, and Football League World has now claimed that Ipswich Town are interested as well.
The Tractor Boys have now joined Birmingham City in the race for Poku, who will be leaving Peterborough when his deal expires at the end of this month. Overseas sides have also been said keen on the winger, and the 23-year-old and his agent are considering all options.
Rival interest from the likes of Ipswich and continued deliberation from Poku and his agent has prompted BCFC to consider alternatives, it is added.
Where will Poku go next season?
The decision over what comes next is firmly in Poku’s hands.
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He has the luxury of having a whole host of options available to him, both home and abroad. There has been the feeling the Birmingham City will be able to make the most attractive offer financially, but overseas options could be tempting and the likes of Ipswich Town may offer a more guaranteed chance of competing at the top of the Championship.
birmingham city, Birmingham City face Ipswich Town competition in winger pursuit
Image courtesy of: ANDREW COULDRIDGE/REUTERS.
Wherever Poku goes, he will be determined to lock down a starting berth. He has starred in League One and deserves a notable step up as he prepares to leave Peterborough United.
A gap to fill for Birmingham City
Birmingham City have a stacked squad and have few areas they could call ‘weak’.
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However, there is certainly a gap to be filled on the right wing. Willum Thor Willumsson and Kieran Dowell – both naturally central players – played on the right-hand side for much of last season. Dowell is wanted back after his loan from Rangers, but there may be other more natural wingers in mind for the spot on the right.
Poku would certainly be one, but the wait for his decision and rival interest has BCFC weighing up other options as they look to strengthen the squad.