‘Rangers accelerating Kwame Poku deal after Russell Martin talks’
Rangers are pushing to agree a deal to sign Peterborough star Kwame Poku on a free transfer ahead of a number of Championship clubs.
That is according to former Man United chief scout and former Sir Alex Ferguson number two Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that Russell Martin is keen to land the 23-year-old.
Martin is expected to speak with Poku and his representatives to put forward a plan for his role should he decide to snub interest from England to move to Glasgow.
Football Insider first revealed in November that Rangers are keen to sign Poku ahead of their rivals and could pay a “minimal” compensation fee to get a deal done.
Now, their interest is more advanced as they have held talks with the player and his agent to convince him to make the move to Ibrox this summer.
Poku would fit in with the club’s transfer strategy under Kevin Thelwell of buying young players and helping them to develop with a view to eventually selling for a profit in the future.
Rangers push to sign Kwame Poku after agent talks
Football Insider revealed in March that Rangers will have to pay to sign Poku despite his contract expiring at the League One club, although it will be a “nominal tribunal fee”.
Brown, who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, has insisted Martin’s side are confident of reaching an agreement and will push to get the deal done.
“Rangers are pushing to sign Kwame Poku,” he told Football Insider.
“That’s the market they want to do business in, signing young talented players and given them the opportunity to develop their games.
“The manager will speak to him and put across a plan for where he fits in the team.
“And they’ll have been speaking to his agent to figure out what it would take to get a deal done.
“So Rangers will be confident that they can get a deal done ahead of these clubs in the Championship, because they’re a big club.
“He may not be a flashy signing that will get all the fans on side, signing somebody from Peterborough in League One, but that shouldn’t matter.
“He’s a player they’ve identified and the manager thinks can improve the team, so they want to get it over the line if they can.”
James Tavernier exit update emerges after deal agreed
Incoming deals are not the only action expected at Ibrox this summer, as a number of first-team players have been linked with moves away.
Brown told Football Insider on 22 June that Rangers are open to offers for James Tavernier and will allow him to leave if they can land a replacement.
This comes after Rangers agreed a deal to sign Bournemouth right-back Max Aarons, who spent last season on loan at La Liga side Valencia.
Meanwhile, Football Insider revealed in April that Rangers are open to offers for Tavernier in a bid to raise funds as he enters the final year of his contract at Ibrox.
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