Stoke City must join Rangers, Ipswich Town transfer race if worst happens with Million Manhoef | OneFootball

Stoke City may need to enter the race for Peterborough United's Kwame Poku

Should Million Manhoef depart in the January transfer window, Stoke City would be extremely well-served by accompanying the likes of Ipswich Town and Rangers in the hotly-contested race for Peterborough United starlet Kwame Poku.

Poku has emerged as one of the hottest properties throughout the EFL as of late following a stunning start to the 2024/25 League One campaign with Peterborough United.

The 23-year-old scored 11 goals and made seven assists last season as Posh made it to the League One play-off semi-finals but has taken his game to another level this time around, which has earned him interest higher up the footballing pyramid.

Poku has proved himself to be unplayable in English football's third tier, finding the back of the net on ten occasions while assisting five more in just 15 appearances.

His hat-trick in Saturday afternoon's 6-1 rout of Cambridge United only further certified his status as the division's most outstanding player, and he looks like good value to become the first individual in League One history to win three successive Player of the Month awards.

What's more, he's also the division's joint-top goalscorer, tied with Stockport County's Louie Barry on 10 strikes - although the Aston Villa loanee has scored three penalties.

It's no surprise, then, that the vultures are beginning to circle for Poku.

Ipswich Town, Rangers FC interested in Peterborough United's Kwame Poku

According to a recent report from TBR Football, Poku is currently being chased by a host of clubs ahead of a potential exit from Posh in the January transfer window.

The report claims that newly-promoted Premier League duo Southampton and Ipswich Town are both interested in acquiring Poku's services, potentially to help them retain their respective top-flight statuses.

Of course, going straight from League One to the Premier League would be a significant leap of faith, and Championship clubs are also interested in what could represent a more realistic transition for the ex-Colchester United wide-man.

Both Burnley and Millwall are reportedly chasing Poku, while scouts from Scottish giants Rangers are said to have attended the aforementioned recent demolition of Cambridge.

Transfer interest in the winger will undoubtedly be ramped up further with his contractual situation in mind, too. At the time of writing, Poku is set to see his current deal expire at the end of the season.

The prospect of renewal appears slim at this stage and Peterborough, who would receive compensation due to his age if he departs as a free agent, are seemingly resigned to losing him next summer.

Stoke City must rival Rangers FC, Ipswich Town for Kwame Poku if Million Manhoef leaves

There are still plenty of moving parts at play, but it's hard to completely rule out a scenario where Stoke's hand could be forced into the market for a player like Poku.

That's because it's not exactly impossible to see Million Manhoef leaving the club in January, even if a potential move in the new year is yet to be reported.

Manhoef only moved to the Potteries from Vitesse Arnhem in January and scored four goals from 14 appearances during his first half-season.

The talented Dutchman has continued in that vein of form in 2024-25, scoring five goals and making two assists across 18 games in all competitions this term, showcasing himself to be one of the most exciting wingers at Championship level - many of his goals coming in the form of a ball roll off his studs and then whipping it with his trusted left foot.

He's already received transfer interest at Stoke in the past, and a repeat of that most certainly isn't off the cards for January if he continues to impress.

Only in the summer, it was reported that Leeds United were eyeing a swoop for his services in a bid to replace Crysencio Summerville - while a move to Elland Road didn't materialise, it served to show that Manhoef's talents are recognised further afield and that has to be something of a concern.

Manhoef's tricky feet and creativity makes him a vital component of this Stoke side, one who absolutely must be replaced in the event of a potential exit. There are plenty of stylisitic parallels between Manhoef and Poku, who represents a distinctly similar profile to the current Potters flyer.

Poku is similarly inventive and tricky but offers an arguably superior goal threat coming off the right-hand side, from which he too likes to cut inside with devastating effect. He would be a perfect replacement if Manhoef was to leave the Potteries in January.

Brokering a deal wouldn't be easy, with Peterborough keen to collect as much as possible and the likes of Rangers and Ipswich both representing stiff competition, but Stoke could offer Poku an instant starting berth he perhaps wouldn't get with either of those clubs and the sale of Manhoef would likely bring in the funds needed to support the signing.