‘Unplayable’ EFL star tipped to seal Sunderland transfer by former England international

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One of the additional benefits to securing Premier League football – as Sunderland did when stunning Sheffield United at Wembley in last week’s play-off final – is that the Stadium of Light is suddenly a far more alluring destination for potential transfer targets.

Croatian striker Matija Frigan could make his ‘dream’ come true with a £12.5 million summer switch to Wearside.

The reigning Austrian Bundesliga Player of the Year Otar Kiteishvili faces a choice between Champions League football at Sturm Graz or Premier League football at Sunderland.

As for Jordan Henderson, the ‘way is clear’ for the Ajax midfielder to complete an emotional Black Cats homecoming.

Competition for the sought-after signature of Peterborough United winger Kwame Poku is not in short supply, meanwhile. Posh chairman Barry Fry recently claimed that no fewer than 26 clubs have made their interest known.

Sunderland, though, are one of the few offering top-flight football.

Lee Hendrie backs Kwame Poku to pick Sunderland over Birmingham City

Whether Regis Le Bris’ play-off champions are willing to match the £30,000-a-week deal slapped down in front of Kwame Poku by deep-pocketed Birmingham City – per Football League World – remains to be seen.

But, while Birmingham may have stormed to the League One title after putting together an expensively-assembled squad far too good for the level, former England international Lee Hendrie feels that the Blues may be biting off more than they can chew going into battle with Sunderland.

“I think Poku is a really, really good player. He’s a young player who has got bags of ability,” Hendrie tells Football League World. “I think Poku would be a great addition for them. But there are [other] clubs that definitely want to sign this young man.

“If Sunderland come in with an offer, you would think that being in the Premier League is the ultimate aim for some of these guys.

“As a player, you want to play at the top level and test yourself. I’m sure that Poku is the same because he’s got the ability to go and play at the top of the Championship, maybe even the Premier League.”

Poku scored 12 goals and set up 11 more last season for a struggling Peterborough side. A tally made all the more impressive when you factor in the injury which kept him on the sidelines for a large portion of the campaign.

‘Unplayable’ Poku can play Premier League football for the first time

The Croydon-born Ghana international likes to cut in from the right onto his left foot. Should he choose Sunderland over a quarter-century of rival suitors, Poku would find himself in direct competition with Patrick Roberts.

That is perhaps the ace up Birmingham’s sleeve.

Football correspondent Graeme Bailey exclusively tells EFL Analysis that first-team football will be a key factor in Kwame Poku’s decision.

“If Birmingham have that drive, which I think they will have next season, it wouldn’t be a bad thing for Poku to go to there knowing that he’ll play football week in, week out,” adds Hendrie, who won his one and only England call-up during a decade at Aston Villa.

“But on the flip side, after Sunderland’s promotion to the Premier League, they need players. If Poku had to choose out of the two, it wouldn’t surprise me if he picked Sunderland.”

Poku’s contract is due to expire in July.

Peterborough – whose manager Darren Ferguson labels the jet-heeled 23-year-old an ‘unplayable’ talent on his day – would be due a compensation fee because he was under the age of 22 when last season kicked off.