FORMER Colchester United youngster Kwame Poku is expected to make a multi-million pound move from Peterborough United at the end of the season – with the U’s set to reap the benefits.

Speaking on his 'Hard Truth' podcast, Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony admitted he is resigned to losing the in-form talented attacker this summer, despite a club record busting contract offer. The 23 year-old’s existing deal runs out next June 2025, with his age ensuring a tribunal decides his transfer fee and MacAnthony expects that to be set in the many millions.

The chairman revealed on the latest edition of his podcast that he rejected a £3 million offer with £3 million in add ons for Poku, last summer.

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And with Colchester having sold Poku to Posh for a substantial six-figure fee in the summer of 2021, believed to be £250,000 with sell-on clauses, they are set to also benefit financially from any big money move the winger makes.

MacAnthony said: “There are many things a tribunal takes into account when setting a transfer fee.

“The offers we have already had are part of that as are his appearances, his goals, the contract offer we have made him and what we have paid out in transfer fees ourselves so we will still get millions and millions for him.

“We did make him a club record offer, but he knows it’s time for him to go to the next level. We hope he wins promotion with us first.

“Kwame probably won’t go to the Premier League straight away, but he will get a high-end Championship club. He will be a Premier League star in the future and that next move will probably cost £30 million.

(Image: STEVE BRADING)

“We spent £250k on him initially, plus half a million in add ons since then. He’s top drawer. He has everything, a great technique, pace and physicality.

"It will have been a pleasure to have him for four years, but he will leave with our best wishes.

“Fans should stop worrying about players leaving for better things as it’s the law of the jungle, the nature of the beast and new heroes will come in.”

Poku played 75 times for Colchester, scoring six goals, before leaving them to join Peterborough.

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"We signed him at 19 and we knew then he would be a top player,” added MacAnthony.

“In his first six months with us he had injuries and he caught Covid twice, but the pieces are all falling into place now.

"And credit Darren Ferguson and his coaching staff for the improvement and development. They have helped Kwame grow as a player.”

Poku has been in excellent form for Peterborough, this season.

The Ghanaian international, who has scored 28 goals in 133 appearances for Posh, was named the League One Player of the Month for both September and October and no player in the top four tiers has had a hand in more goals, this season.