Queens Park Rangers will begin to feel a sense of excitement ahead of the new Championship season.
Only days after appointing Julien Stephan as manager, QPR have signed centre-back Amadou Mbengue from Reading and unveiled the capture of Kwame Poku from Peterborough United.
QPR winning the race to sign the 23-year-old is a real signal of their intent, as Birmingham City were interested in Poku earlier in the window alongside Scottish giants Rangers.
But after Peterborough’s director of football Barry Fry slapped a £10 million asking price on Poku, the Blues walked away from negotiations and have instead sought to sign Demarai Gray from Al-Ettifaq.
Meanwhile, as Poku could have joined Rangers on a free transfer, Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony was desperate for an English club to pay compensation, with QPR announcing the 23-year-old on Saturday.
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesKwame Poku was sold QPR project by new manager Julien Stephan
When considering his options ahead of leaving London Road, Poku wanted the guarantee of starting regularly, something Birmingham couldn’t promise him.
That is why, after Swansea City, QPR, and an unnamed Championship club agreed terms with Poku, the fleet-footed Ghanaian was sold by Stephan’s plans for him.
Speaking to the R’s official website, the exciting winger said: “When I was speaking to him he was talking about where he sees me fitting in and where he thinks I can influence the game.
“That’s what really attracted me. Being 23 turning 24, I’m not quite young anymore, so I want to come in and make my mark from the jump.”
Poku is the latest incredible, young talent to make the switch to QPR, joining the likes of Karamoko Dembele and Mbengue in the squad.
Poku explains what is different from his last time in the Championship
The last time Poku played in the Championship was in the 2021/22 campaign, which resulted in relegation for Peterborough.
Poku was a raw talent back then, who needed to refine his end product, something he’s done during a three-year stint in League One.
Now, he’s determined to carry such form into the second tier, saying: “I think I had some good performances, good on the ball, I just think what separated then from now was the statistical side of it,” he said.
“Coming into this team where there’s a lot of good attacking players and good all-rounded players as well, I think I’ll create more chances, be at the end of a lot of chances and get more numbers.”
The Championship is a different kettle of fish to the third tier but QPR will be hopeful they’ve made one of the signings of the summer.