Birmingham City should target double deal for Peterborough stars.

Following their remarkable League One season, Birmingham City are looking to build a squad capable of competing in the Championship, and the Blues should return to the third-tier market to bolster themselves further with a couple of Peterborough United players.

Birmingham are reportedly interested in signing out-of-contract Ghanaian winger Kwame Poku this summer. Football League World exclusively reports that the Ghana international will be offered a £30,000-per-week contract at St Andrew’s.

However, in addition to Poku, Blues could do a lot worse than look at his current club teammate Hector Kyprianou as they look to strengthen their squad in all areas of the pitch this summer.

Kyprianou, like Poku, is out of contract this summer, but unlike Poku, he will not be subject to a tribunal-determined compensation fee, making him a wise addition to their roster of excellent defensive midfielders.

Poku and Kyprianou’s potential impact

Birmingham will aim for more goals from midfield and wide positions this summer, as only two players, strikers Jay Stansfield and Alfie May, have reached double figures in League One this season, despite Chris Davies’ side breaking the all-time EFL points tally of 106 with 111 in 46 games.

Keshi Anderson has been a reliable out-wide performer, but Emil Hansson hasn’t hit the ground running in his first season, while Luke Harris’ loan deal from Fulham and Kieran Dowell’s from Rangers expire this summer, and there are concerns about Willum Willumsson’s performance in the second half of the season.

Poku provides that goal threat and would establish himself as a surefire starter on the right side of the Blues attack, cutting in with his devastating left foot.

While that deal has been mooted, one that would also make a lot of sense and has not yet been rumoured this summer would be the arrival of Cyprus international Kyprianou, who captained Posh and scored as they defeated Birmingham by two goals to nil at Wembley Stadium in the EFL Trophy final last month, helping Peterborough become the first team to ever defend that competition.

Tomoki Iwata and Paik Seung-ho have been key for Birmingham this season, but the Blues will want to add some depth in that position, and Kyprianou, at only 23, would be an excellent fit.

 

Kyprianou is a budget-friendly option for Birmingham.

Kyprianou, who played for Omonia Youth before Tottenham Hotspur and Leyton Orient, will be available for a free transfer at the end of this month, unlike Poku, who will need a tribunal to determine his compensation package.

Kyprianou has already made nearly 250 senior first-team appearances for Orient and Posh, as well as loan spells with Harlow Town, Bishop’s Stortford, Hampton, and Richmond Borough.

The Cypriot defensive midfielder shares the same playing style and profile as club captain Krystian Bielik, but he is three and a half years younger and appears to be more durable.

Birmingham chairman Tom Wagner has stated that funds will be available for the Blues this summer. However, Kyprianou, who was a target for Watford in January, may be a more cost-effective addition to the already strong squad.