£7.5k-a-week QPR star could be big loser from Kwame Poku transfer agreement | OneFootball

The Rs have signed winger Kwame Poku from League One side Peterborough United.

Queens Park Rangers won the race for Peterborough United winger Kwame Poku at the weekend.

A number of other clubs were interested in signing the Ghana international, but he opted for a move to Loftus Road in a deal reportedly worth £900,000 plus add-ons, as per Sky Sports.

Swansea City had also agreed a deal with Peterborough for Poku, as per Mark McAdam, while Scottish giants Rangers had their move for the 23-year-old hijacked by QPR, according to Football Insider.

Football League World exclusively revealed earlier this summer that Birmingham City were prepared to offer the winger £30,000-per-week.

Peterborough's Director of Football, Barry Fry, stated in May that Poku's agent had claimed 26 clubs were interested in signing the player, which shows just how much of a coup it was for the Rs to get a deal over the line.

There has been plenty of positive news in West London recently, with Julien Stephan having been appointed to replace Marti Cifuentes as head coach, Amadou Mbengue joining from Reading, Kealey Adamson arriving from Macarthur, and, of course, Poku signing from Peterborough.

However, while there is plenty of optimism about what QPR could achieve in the Championship next season, one man may be less enthused following Poku's arrival at Loftus Road.

Smyth will face serious competition from Poku

Paul Smyth has made 87 Championship appearances for QPR in the last two seasons, scoring four goals and providing five assists, but he may feel as though his position is under threat following Poku's move to the club.

The Northern Irishman is versatile, but he has tended to feature on the right-wing for the Rs, which is the position that Poku thrived in for the Posh last season.

It would be no surprise if Smyth, who is paid £7,500-per-week according to the estimated data available on Capology.com, struggles to break into the starting lineup on a consistent basis next season, as Poku's ability will likely make it difficult for him to better the 30 league starts he made during the 2024/25 campaign.

Poku can deliver the output QPR need

There is no doubt that Smyth is a player who works hard every time he is on the pitch, and his pace can provide an extremely valuable outlet for QPR, but his lack of goal contributions has often been a cause for frustration.

The arrival of Poku could be a hugely significant signing for the Rs, as his creative output from the right-hand side should, in theory, enable them to score more goals.

Poku suffered an injury that limited him to making just 31 appearances for the Posh in all competitions last term, but he still managed to score 12 goals and provide 11 assists over the course of the campaign.

If he can recreate that form in the Championship next season, it will be a significant upgrade on the output that Smyth has delivered during the last couple of seasons, and could be a catalyst for QPR to climb the table and potentially try and compete for a play-off place.

It will be interesting to see whether Smyth is kept at the club this summer, as his pace and relentless pressing could be useful off the bench in certain situations, but it could depend on if the 27-year-old is happy to be behind Poku in the pecking order at this stage of his career.