Ipswich Town urged to only seal deal for 12-goal winger if Omari Hutchinson leaves | OneFootball

FLW's Ipswich fan pundit has given his verdict on their reported interest in Kwame Poku

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Ipswich Town are set to join the race to sign Kwame Poku from Peterborough United this summer.

It was exclusively revealed by FLW earlier this week that the Tractor Boys are eyeing a move for the winger.

The 23-year-old is a free agent this summer, so can discuss terms with a new club for next season.

Poku contributed 12 goals and eight assists in League One last season, with the team finishing 18th in the table.

Kwame Poku arrival verdict

When asked if a deal for Poku would be a coup, FLW’s Ipswich fan pundit Adam Wilkin claimed that this would’ve been a more exciting signing a couple of years ago.

He now feels the Suffolk outfit have a lot of options in attack, and that signing the forward would make more sense if Omari Hutchinson departed Portman Road.

“We seem to be linked with Poku every transfer window, and if this was a couple of years ago I’d be saying ‘yeah, absolutely, a very good signing, who could step up to the Championship’,” Wilkin told Football League World.

“But, given the state of our squad at the moment, I don’t think it should be seen as a coup.

“I think he wouldn’t be as good as what we already have in the building, the only way I can see it happening is if Omari Hutchinson left.

“If he does go, then Poku does look like a good alternative option that could be developed, he’s only 23, so you could, under McKenna’s coaching, improve him even more and try to bring him up to the Championship level.

“I think with his League One form the last two seasons, with 20 goal contributions last season, and the sort of profile that he’s got, his profile is very similar to that of Hutchinson, so he could be brought in as a player off the bench — much like Hutchinson did in his first season.

“But I can’t see him joining the club if Hutchinson is still there, because we’ll have Hutchinson, Wes Burns, Chie Ogbene and Poku all in the right-midfield slot, which is really his role, and he’s inverted so he’s left-footed coming off the right, which is a different option to have there, but Hutchinson currently provides that.

“So I think he’d be a good signing, I’d be happy with him if Hutchinson was to leave, but I can’t see it happening unless that happens.”

Ipswich are preparing for life back in the Championship after coming 19th in the Premier League last season under Kieran McKenna.

Poku could be a good option depending on Ipswich’s other business

Hutchinson could yet depart Ipswich, as it is still very early days in the window and there are a lot of deals still to be done.

If the Tractor Boys do lose some of their attacking firepower, then being able to bring in Poku could be a smart alternative to come in, especially as Peterborough will only be owed minimal compensation as part of any move.

Poku is still only 23 and has been a standout talent in League One, so could make the jump up to the Championship.

However, this need to lose players before a deal makes sense for Ipswich could cause them to lose out given the level of competition they face for his signature.