Exclusive: Ipswich Town join Birmingham City, Celtic and Rangers in free agent transfer race | OneFootball

Ipswich Town have joined the race for out-of-contract winger Kwame Poku, Football League World has learned

Ipswich Town have joined the race for in-demand free agent Kwame Poku following his departure from League One side Peterborough United at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, Football League World can exclusively reveal.

The exciting winger opted to leave London Road upon the expiration of his contract following three stellar campaigns at League One level, and has now emerged as one of the hottest properties throughout the EFL as a clutch of clubs scramble to secure his signature this summer.

Poku returned 12 goals and eight assists from just 27 league appearances last time out in an injury-disrupted campaign, in which Darren Ferguson's side finished all the way down in 18th.

However, the 23-year-old is now primed for bigger things and has no shortage of suitors as a result.

Ipswich Town join Birmingham, Celtic and Rangers in Kwame Poku transfer race

Sources close to FLW have revealed that Ipswich are now in the running to sign Poku, who has been subjected to widespread interest in recent times.

The Tractor Boys will be looking to plot an immediate return to the Premier League under Kieran McKenna after suffering instant relegation alongside Leicester City and Southampton, and could see those ambitions boosted with the acquisition of Poku.

They will, however, have to beat off a wealth of competition first. Big-spending Birmingham City, who could potentially compete with Ipswich for promotion next season following an EFL-record points haul in their League One title-winning campaign, have been long-term admirers of the former Colchester United attacker but are now believed to be considering alternative options after being left frustrated in their prolonged pursuit.

It's said that Poku and his agent are considering options abroad amid interest from unnamed clubs in Portugal, Belgium and Germany, which is reportedly a "growing concern" for Peterborough as they would receive minimal compensation for the tricky wide-man in the event of a switch to mainland Europe.

Posh director of football Barry Fry, who recently revealed that Poku is speaking to 26 clubs both at home and abroad, has encouraged the starlet to join Birmingham, and a move to the Second City or to Ipswich, for example, would see the League One side net a healthy compensation figure for a player who will not celebrate his 24th birthday until mid-August.

Meanwhile, Scottish giants Celtic and Rangers have also been linked with a move for Poku and represent just two more sides Ipswich will have to fight off interest from in order to get any potential deal over the line this summer.

Ipswich Town could be spoilt for choice if Kwame Poku signing is completed

Ipswich are, at this moment in time, preparing for life back in the Championship in good health.

The bulk of their squad either played an influential role in their successive promotions from League One to the Premier League, or were signed last season in a Championship-orientated recruitment drive by McKenna, who sought to acquire some of the best second-tier talent to prepare Ipswich for the eventuality of immediate relegation.

They are spoilt for choice in wide areas in particular, having poached two of the finest wingers of the 2023/24 Championship season in Jack Clarke and Jaden Philogene.

The gifted duo, who were signed last summer and in January respectively, are yet to really hit the ground running at Portman Road but have the Championship pedigree and proven class to inspire a promotion push next time around - although their places in the side would be threatened by the arrival of Poku.

Signing Poku would offer Ipswich astounding strength in depth, and a real selection headache to McKenna.

That's without mentioning some of the other options at the Northern Irishman's disposal, which includes the likes of Nathan Broadhead, Chiedozie Ogbene, Wes Burns and even Omari Hutchinson, who is perhaps more at home when deployed as a number 10 behind the striker but can also operate out wide.

One or two of those, you would imagine, may be deemed surplus to requirements in the coming weeks and months. The potential signing of Poku would further disrupt the pecking order at the club, but it could be a real statement of intent and provide yet another boost to Ipswich's hopes of gaining promotion at the very first time of asking.