£7.5k-a-week QPR star could be big loser from Kwame Poku transfer agreement
Over the weekend, Queens Park Rangers emerged victorious in the competition for Kwame Poku, a winger for
Peterborough United.
The Ghanaian international was approached by several other teams, but according to Sky Sports, he decided to
transfer to Loftus Road in a deal allegedly worth £900,000 plus add-ons.
Mark McAdam reported that Swansea City had also reached an agreement with Peterborough for Poku, but Football
Insider claimed that QPR had snatched Rangers’ attempt to get the 23-year-old.
Earlier this summer, Football League World exclusively reported that Birmingham City was willing to pay the winger
£30,000 a week.
To illustrate how much of a coup it was for the Rs to close a deal, Peterborough’s Director of Football, Barry Fry, said
in May that Poku’s agent had revealed 26 clubs were interested in signing the midfielder.
With Julien Stephan taking over as head coach in place of Marti Cifuentes, Amadou Mbengue entering from
Reading, Kealey Adamson arriving from Macarthur, and, of course, Poku joining from Peterborough, West London
has seen a lot of good news lately.
However, while there is plenty of optimism about what QPR could achieve in the Championship next season, one
man may be less enthused following Poku’s arrival at Loftus Road.
Smyth will face serious competition from Poku
four goals, but he might feel that his job is in jeopardy now that Poku has joined the team.
Despite his versatility, the Northern Irishman has tended to play on the right-wing for the Rs, which is where Poku
excelled for the Posh the previous season.
Given that Poku’s skill will probably make it difficult for him to surpass the 30 league starts he made in the 2024–
2025 season, it would not be shocking if Smyth, who makes £7,500 per week based on the estimated data available
on Capology.com, finds it difficult to establish himself as a regular starter the following season.
Poku can deliver the output QPR need
Smyth is unquestionably a player who puts in a lot of effort whenever he is on the game, and his speed can provide
QPR a very useful outlet. However, his inability to contribute goals has frequently been a source of annoyance.
Poku might be a very important addition to the Rs because of his creative output on the right side, which should
theoretically help them score more goals.
| Kwame Poku’s stats for Peterborough (Transfermarkt) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 147 | 30 | 30 |
Poku suffered an injury that limited him to making just 31 appearances for the Posh in all competitions last term, but
he still managed to score 12 goals and provide 11 assists over the course of the campaign.
The production that Smyth has produced over the past two seasons would be greatly improved if he could replicate
that performance in the Championship the following season. It might also help QPR move up the table and attempt
to contend for a play-off spot.
It will be intriguing to see if Smyth is retained by the team this summer. His quickness and unrelenting pressure may
be helpful off the bench in some circumstances, but it may also depend on whether the 27-year-old is content to be
behind Poku in the hierarchy at this point in his career.
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