View: Koppen could give Clement a New Year's gift at Rangers by signing 'Unplayable' EFL forward

Nils Koppen could be looked upon favourably if he manages to secure a deal to sign Peterborough United hotshot Kwame Poku for Rangers.

The Gers are among the clubs to have been linked with a deal for Poku, 23, who is out of contract next summer and reportedly had scouts in attendance as Peterborough hammered rivals Cambridge United 6-1 on 9 November (TBR Football).

Southampton, Ipswich Town and Burnley are also reportedly keeping tabs on a player who has 10 goals and five assists from 15 games this season.

In quotes reported in the TBR Football story, Posh boss Darren Ferguson acknowledged it will be a challenge to keep hold of the versatile attacker, who he described as “unplayable” lately.

“The boy is unplayable at the moment, he’s just so good. He deserves all the plaudits and all the credit. That’s why we had to keep him in the summer,” Ferguson said

“There were offers for him and there will be more offers for him. We’re trying to keep him and have offered him a new contract.

“Me and the chairman are trying our best, but it will be very tough and you can see why.”

Rangers hold advantage over English clubs for Kwame Poku

With the squad overhaul at Ibrox still vastly incomplete, a deal for Poku would certainly buy some time for Koppen, and then it is down to Philippe Clement to achieve the same by taking Ferguson’s baton and getting the best out of him.

An attacking player who is adept in midfield, it is highly likely Clement would opt to use him out wide, with injuries to the likes of Tom Lawrence, Rabbi Matondo and Oscar Cortes having taken their toll on a Rangers team nine points off the pace in the Scottish Premiership and with a demanding fixture schedule.

The advantage the Gers hold over English clubs surrounding Poku is that a compensation package would not have to be agreed to bring him north, due to the proposed transfer being regarded as an international move.

This is where Rangers have had complications with Aberdeen for Connor Barron, who moved to Ibrox while out of contract; both players are under 24 and therefore liable to require this payment when switching between clubs of the same nation.

Koppen could also strike a pre-contract arrangement in January for Poku, which is when he can begin to discuss a move with other clubs.

It is unlikely the leading scorer and assist maker for Peterborough will be interested in staying at London Road beyond next summer with the options emerging in front of him, and this is an opportunity for the Gers to stamp down a marker and excite the fans.

Of course, Koppen could even try his luck at striking a deal to bring Poku to Ibrox even sooner. With his deal running out and terms not yet agreed on an extension, it might be prudent to try and negotiate a deal in the winter transfer window.

With Clement’s position under threat still, it would be the ideal January gift to bring Poku to Glasgow for the second half of the campaign.

In other Rangers news, another potential deal on the table for a Malaysian international.

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