Glasgow Rangers will have all eyes on Europe over the next few days as Barry Ferguson will be aiming to lead the Gers into the semi-finals of the Europa League.
The 0-0 draw against Athletic Bilbao set the Ibrox side up nicely for the second leg in Spain on Thursday evening, although it will arguably be the toughest game of the season for the club.
Even if Ferguson masterminds a run to the last four or even the final, he won’t be in charge of the Glasgow side next season. A new era will begin this summer, with a permanent manager announced in the next couple of months.
It appears as though Nils Koppen is looking ahead to the future regarding potential summer signings, however, especially with Champions League qualification required to bolster the club’s finances.
The transfer business will have to be smart. Spending lavish sums of money on players isn’t a strategy that can afford to go wrong for the fourth summer in a row. That’s a certainty.
This means the Gers will have to target those who can be brought in for free or sign young talent for minimal fees, similar to the Lyall Cameron and Hamza Igamane deals.
Could this entice the Light Blues into signing Peterborough United winger Kwame Poku?
Latest on Rangers' pursuit of Kwame Poku
According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Rangers are showing plenty of interest in Poku and with his contract expiring this summer, they could secure a bargain deal.
Discussing the youngster, Bailey said: “His people are in talks with a number of clubs – and yes, one of them is Birmingham. There are others, though – Crystal Palace, Millwall, Luton and Norwich among them.”
“However, the big danger is Rangers – they want him and have watched him numerous times. Talks have continued but complicated by their takeover and then new manager.”
Given the fact he would be challenging for trophies and playing European football in Scotland, a move to Rangers is certainly the most appealing on this list of clubs.
Considering the club would only have to pay a small compensation fee, plus the fact he is still only 23 years old, Poku could be a smart signing indeed ahead of next season.
Why Rangers want to sign Kwame Poku
Vaclav Cerny will return to his parent club at the end of the season after a positive loan spell, and this leaves a major gap to fill on the right wing.
Poku certainly has the required abilities to shine in Scotland. For the Posh this season, the winger has registered 22 goal contributions – 12 goals and ten assists – across just 26 matches in all competitions.
Furthermore, the youngster has also created nine big chances, averages 1.3 key passes per game and succeeds with 1.9 dribbles per game in League One this season for his club. An impressive set of statistics for the winger.
Goals
12
11
Assists
8
2
Big chances created
9
6
Successful dribbles per game
1.9
1.5
Shots per game
2.5
2.9
Goal conversion percentage
20%
14%
Poku has made one appearance for his country, all the way back in 2021, but if he keeps this form up and earns a move to a bigger side, might he return to the national team fold?
According to Transfermarkt, Poku is currently valued at €1.5m (£1.3m), although this could rise further should he perform in the Scottish Premiership or the Premier League.
While he has plenty of talent and could turn out to be an excellent signing for the Light Blues should he be tempted by a move to Scotland, Rangers have a talented starlet of their own who is worth double what Poku is valued at.
Hamza Igamane might not be at his best right now, but if developed correctly, he could be sold for millions.
Rangers have struck gold on their own sensation
Despite arriving as a relatively unknown quantity last summer, Igamane has since gone on to become one of the club’s prized assets through a string of excellent performances, most notably in Europe.
Indeed, in the Europa League group stage, he scored four goals and grabbed an assist in eight matches, including a double against Nice and a goal scored against Tottenham Hotspur.
Indeed, he scores once every 110 minutes in the competition, along with registering 1.4 shots per game and having a goal conversion rate of 31%.
Add to the fact he has netted ten Premiership goals, which included a stunning late winner against Celtic, and it is clear that the Moroccan international has endeared himself to the supporters.
The 22-year-old has attracted interest from afar due to these performances, however, leading to the suggestion that the Ibrox side will cash in on him as soon as they receive a satisfactory offer.
Following the Spurs match, it was revealed that scouts from Everton were in attendance to monitor his display.
Last month, Football Insider reported that the Toffees were plotting a move for the striker this summer, although no transfer fee was mentioned.
Analyst Ben Mattinson hailed Igamane late last year, saying: “Completely unpredictable, tonnes of flair and trickery. The type of player to try outrageous moves/shots just because.”
Having cost the club a mere £1.7m from AS FAR last summer, the striker has seen his value soar in just under a year since joining. According to Transfermarkt, Igamane is now worth €4m (£3.5m) after a stunning start to life for the Glasgow giants.
Indeed, this means he is worth over double the value of Poku and, with such a large scope for improvement, don’t expect this number to stay this low.
Whoever arrives at the club as the new manager this summer faces a major issue. Do they keep Igamane for another season in a bid to make him even better, thus potentially increasing his value? Or do they cash in when the first big offer comes this summer?
There are merits to both points, but the Ibrox faithful just want to see him shine over the last few games of the season.
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