The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Ivan Toney will smash the League One transfer record if he leaves Posh
Posh - Chairman Darragh MacAnthony has been speaking to his YouTube audience
If, and it remains a big if for now, Ivan Toney leaves Peterborough United, the transfer fee will smash the record for a League One player.
Chairman Darragh MacAntony made the statement during a live video released on his personal YouTube channel.
The current record fee for a League One footballer is £11 million paid by Everton to Charlton for Ademola Lookman in 2017.
The Posh record sale is Dwight Gayle to Crystal Palace for £6 million in 2013. The club reportedly turned down a £4 million bid from a Championship club for Toney in August.
“Toney will break the transfer record for a League One player when he goes,” MacAnthony said. “If he goes that is. He’ll certainly smash the Posh record.
“We don’t want to lose anyone in January, but you can’t guarantee anything in football. If we do lose anyone they will be replaced.
“We are more interested in recruitment and we will definitely be bringing a couple in and there will be a couple of fringe players leaving. We want a central midfielder and a centre-back for competition. The owners will always back the manager.”
MacAnthony’s hour-long video covered multiple Posh topics ...
ON MARCUS MADDISON
The club’s maverick talent is out of contract at the end of the season.
“There is no rush from me on him signing a new contract,” MacAnthony said. “Marcus is the best player in League One and he knows he should be playing higher. The penny has started to drop with him.
“He is among the top five in League One in all relevant stats, but he has dropped off it away from home in recent games. He is certainly not undroppable.
“He still does things that make you want to smack him! But he has grown up a lot and he just need to grow up some more.”
ON POSH’S LEAGUE POSITION
Posh are third going into this weekend.
“I’m okay with it,” MacAnthony said. “But I always want more. My partners are happier than me, but I thought we would be in the top two averaging two points per game by now and we are a bit behind that.”
ON THE FORM OF POSH PLAYERS
Experienced signings Mark Beevers and George Boyd have yet to impress Posh fans.
“Beevers is actually in the top six centre-backs in League One according to the stats I get sent,” MacAnthony said. “He’s made mistakes, but he’s come to a club and a manager with a philosophy totally different to what he left behind. It takes time to settle no matter how experienced you are.
“And we need to manage George better. He’s 34 and he’s probably been overplayed this season for someone who runs as much as he does. His days as a waltzing winger are gone, but he still has plenty to offer.
ON TRANSFER TARGETS
MacAnthony revealed Rochdale
midfielder Callum Camps turned down a move to Posh in the summer for geographical reasons. He didn’t rule out another attempt to sign midfielder Greg Docherty from Rangers, but Cheltenham’s Ryan Broom is not a target.
ON THAT IVAN TONY SONG
Fans have been singing a song with racist undertones.
“Two Posh fans reported me to ‘Kick it Out’ for not taking the reaction to Ivan’s song seriously which surprised me,” MacAnthony said.