Inside St Andrew’s: Kwame Poku set for transfer as former Birmingham City man released
The latest Birmingham City notebook features Kwame Poku, Ethan Laird, John Ruddy and Steve Seddon
The Kwame Poku transfer saga could be reaching its conclusion with Scottish side Rangers now reportedly in pole position to sign him.
Birmingham City chased Poku throughout the month of May but they have since turned their attention to other targets after becoming frustrated over the winger’s deliberation.
Poku is a free agent after leaving Peterborough United but they will be entitled to a fee due to the winger being under 24.
However, Poku joining Rangers would cost Posh a pretty penny due to cross-border compensation rules. Rangers would only have to pay Peterborough a small fee, whereas the London Road club would bank a significant amount if Poku joined a rival English club.
It is now being reported that Poku is set to link up with Russell Martin at Ibrox.
The Scottish Sun claims Poku and Bournemouth right-back Max Aarons will join Rangers to kickstart Martin’s squad build.
While Blues have already moved on to other targets, Peterborough are the big losers in Poku’s decision and have already missed out on a pay day after Ricky-Jade Jones’ decision to shun Championship interest and sign for Bundesliga club St Pauli.
Laird putting graft in
Ethan Laird is putting the hard yards in ahead of Blues’ return for pre-season testing next week.
Laird has been working with ex-Blues loanee Teden Mengi at the Mykonos Performance Gym in a bid to increase his sharpness ahead of pre-season.
The pair are being coached by Tom Joyce, a professional fitness coach who works with a number of Premier League players including Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga, who Laird played alongside in Manchester United’s academy.
Videos on Joyce’s Instagram page show Laird sprinting around a track, performing various football drills and making an acrobatic goal-line clearance.
The 23-year-old enjoyed a superb season down in League One with Blues and now returns to a level where he has already played 83 matches.
Ruddy ‘viewed as vital’
Former Blues goalkeeper John Ruddy might not be playing a major role on the field for Newcastle United, indeed he hasn’t yet played a minute for the Magpies, but he has become an important figure behind-the-scenes at his new club.
Ruddy is one of five goalkeepers on the books at Newcastle and, according to The Athletic, could be instrumental in them signing a sixth glovesman.
It is claimed that Ruddy, 38, is ‘viewed as vital in terms of being a role model’ to James Trafford.
Highly-rated Burnley goalkeeper Trafford kept 29 clean sheets in the Championship last season and is wanted by Newcastle.
Seddon released
Another ex-Blues man is on the lookout for a new club. Steve Seddon has been released by Motherwell after 12 months with the Scots.
The left-back’s season was disrupted by injury but he managed to make 17 appearances for the Steelmen.
Seddon emerged from Blues’ academy in 2016 and played 11 times for the club in the Championship before sealing a permanent move to Oxford in 2021.
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