BLUES LOSE OUT TO RANGERS IN HUNT FOR POKU

KWAME Poku is set to be unveiled as a Queens Park Rangers new signing and bring a close to a long-running transfer saga.

- ALEX DICKEN

The 23-year-old winger has been heavily linked with Birmingham City over the last few months as he headed towards the end of his contract at Peterborough United and Blues were widely believed to be at the front of a queue of suitors.

But serious interest from St Pauli and Rangers turned the race on its head - and neither club would have to pay Posh due to cross-border compensation rules - but, in the end, QPR suddenly emerged from the pack to win the race for his signature.

A fee of about £900,000 plus add-ons was agreed with Peterborough as compensation instead of going to a tribunal and QPR offered an eye-popping contract. The club's summer budget is expected to be transformed by a 20 per cent sell-on clause they have in Éberechi Eze, who is wanted from Crystal Palace by Spurs.