Peterborough United’s head coach Darren Ferguson has shut down transfer rumours surrounding Posh forward Kwame Poku and insists the 23-year-old will remain at London Road.
Poku has attracted interest in 2024 and Peterborough turned down bids from higher-level clubs in January, as reported by Peterborough Today. The Ghanian impressed at Peterborough last season, scoring 11 goals and assisting seven in 37 League One appearances, per Transfermarkt.
Moreover, the 23-year-old has continued his strong form early in the 2024/25 campaign, emphasising his importance to Posh. Although Poku was goalless in Peterborough’s League One opener against Huddersfield (2-0), he was in top form in the 4-1 win over Shrewsbury last time out. The forward struck twice in a dominant Posh performance, hit the crossbar and attempted more shots than any other player on the pitch (6), recorded by Whoscored.
Such performances are likely to increase interest and transfer rumours in Poku. However, when asked by BBC Cambridgeshire about the forward’s future, Ferguson provided a firm response. The Scottish coach clearly stated that the former Colchester player would not be departing London Road this summer.
“No, he won’t be going. It’s that simple really. There’s been a lot of speculation about him and Hector [Kyprianou] but it has to stop.
“I understand the question, but they need to concentrate on their football and trying to have a successful season.”
Peterborough’s summer transfer window has been relatively balanced, with six players departing, including former captain Harrison Burrows and highly-rated Ronnie Edwards. However, Posh have recruited positively, landing Rio Adebisi from Crewe Alexandra and young attacker Chris Conn-Clarke, formerly of non-league Altrincham.
Yet, while Ferguson said he was pleased with the business completed during the summer window, he also expressed the importance of retaining Posh’s best talent, including Poku.
“If we keep losing our best players it’s going to make it very very difficult to be successful, I can’t do that.
“We’ve got budgets and finances we have to get correct and I know exactly where I stand. But if I’m going to lose all my best players it’s going to make it very difficult for me and it’ll get the point where there’s no point me being here.
Ferguson added: “I want to be a successful manager. I’ve got to manage the players and if I get big offers from bigger clubs I have to deal with that situation, and I feel I’m more than capable of doing it.”
Writer’s View
Ferguson’s hardline stance on Poku could detract any hopeful clubs looking to sign the 23-year-old before August 31. The 52-year-old manager seemingly has no interest in allowing Poku, or any other key players, to leave before the window shuts.
Also, after receiving decent fees for Edwards and Burrows, Peterborough doesn’t seem in a desperate position to sell assets like Poku. The only concern may come from the Ghanaian having less than a year left on his contract, which could lower the player’s value if transfer rumours continue into January.
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