"We’d ask for £10m " - Barry Fry makes intriguing Kwame Poku, Birmingham City transfer claim | OneFootball

Poku is going to be a free agent this summer and his next move could prove very costly for the Posh.

Barry Fry has admitted that he wants to see Peterborough United star Kwame Poku join Birmingham City this summer rather than moving away from England, amid fears the player's agent may push such a deal.

New League One champions Birmingham are one of the sides said to be in the running for Poku, although they are set to face competition from Scotland's two biggest clubs, Celtic and Rangers, who the Blues fear may ruin their chances of landing the 23-year-old.

Football League World exclusively reported that City are willing to offer the Ghanaian a £30,000 per week salary in order to join them.

If a player under the age of 24 leaves their club as a free agent, the club (Peterborough, in this case) are entitled to training compensation because of the work they have put into developing the player. This fee can either be negotiated between the two teams, or it can go to a tribunal who will decide on the player's value.

In the case of Poku, Peterborough's chairman Darragh MacAnthony, is expecting to get "millions and millions" in compensation as a result of his departure, but they won't get as much money if he went to a non-English club like Celtic or Rangers.

Barry Fry expresses Kwame Poku summer move preference

There are worries from Fry - Peterborough's director of football and ex-Birmingham boss - that the winger could be swayed abroad by his agent, a move that he wouldn't like to see happen. He and MacAnthony have already stated that they believe a move to St Andrew's is the most likely option for the winger this summer.

Had Poku not got injured before the winter transfer window, Fry wouldn't have had to deal with the issue of compensation as they could have started a bidding war for the player, given how many teams were interested.

"Birmingham wanted Kwame last summer. Eight clubs wanted Kwame in January," the sporting director claimed to Peterborough Today. "They all wanted him instantly to help promotion pushes, but he was injured so that was a non-starter.

"I know of 12 clubs who now want him, but according to his agent there are 26 clubs at home and abroad after Kwame. Obviously if he moves abroad that’s not good news for us.

"In my opinion Birmingham will make him an offer others won’t be able to match, but his agent seems to think Birmingham won’t be challenging for promotion next season whereas I do. I’ve met the owner and he’s incredibly ambitious."

On the issue of compensation, Fry would rather see whoever Poku signs with negotiate a price with Peterborough directly rather than letting the courts decide on his worth.

"Kwame is entitled to sign a contract with a new club, but that club would then have to come to us to agree a fee. If we can’t agree then it would go to a tribunal, but I’ve heard there is an eight-to-nine-month backlog which is bad news for us. Kwame would be entitled to play for his new club before the compensation fee is set.

"We believe it doesn’t matter who signs him, it would be in that club’s interest to agree a fee without the need for a tribunal. I have written offers in the millions for Kwame which all counts towards a judgement, but if we go to a tribunal the other club would offer tuppence and we’d ask for £10m and we’d then see what happens."

Peterborough's Birmingham PR push

It does feel like the Posh are laying the groundwork for a move to Birmingham for Poku, pushing the narrative and almost trying to speak it into existence. And why wouldn't they? It's of significant benefit to them that he stays in the country, and St Andrew's appears to be the most likely destination in the EFL for him.