Heavily capped Dutch U21 international Ernest Poku came to Bayer Leverkusen this summer with the full expectation of playing under a Dutch head coach. While that may not exactly worked out as planned, but the 21-year-old can still absolutely be satisfied with the way in which his Bundesliga career has begun.
After impressing off the bench in three consecutive matches under new B04 head coach Kasper Hjlumand, Poku appears to have earned a regular starting spot. The former AZ Alkmaar man has started on the left-hand-side of the top attacking axis in the last Bundesliga and Champions League fixtures.
Poku is also on a roll, scoring in his last two Bundesliga appearances. Transfermarkt reports that Poku is in line for an October upgrade. The youngster’s estimated market value will be tripled from €4m to €12m. For the moment Poku is spending the October international break with the Dutch U21s.
Although Poku has been representing Holland since the U16 level and – following a strong U21 European championship this summer – nears the top Dutch level, it’s worth noting that he remains a native of Hamburg who lived in the Hanseatic city state for the first seven years of his life.
Poku still understands some German and scored his first Bundesliga goal in his hometown against St. Pauli. In an interview with Holland’s Voetbalzone, Poku seemed open to making the country of his new club employer his new national allegiance.
“That would be entirely possible, but at the moment I’m just focusing on the Oranje,” Poku told the online portal. “Whatever happens, happens. I was glad to score my first Bundesliga goal in Hamburg. I work hard every day and give my best at Leverkusen and Jong Oranje.“
