The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Fergie already has plans in place for the 2020-21 campaign
Posh - Transfer targets and a retained list
Peterborough United have started planning for the 202021 season even though they don’t know whether they will be playing in the Championship or League One.
Posh boss Darren Ferguson has already discussed a retained list and potential transfer targets with chairman Darragh MacAnthony.
Plan A assumes Posh win promotion to the second tier and would include attempts to keep star men Ivan Toney and Sammie Szmodics at the club.
Top scorer Toney is expected to be the subject of multimillion pound bids, while Szmodics could be persuaded to turn his loan move from Bristol City into a permanent deal if Posh can offer Championship football.
“I’m treating the current situation as a close season,” Ferguson revealed. “We have a plan A for if we are in the Championship and a plan B if we are still in League One.
“There could be a very quick turnaround from this season to next season so it’s important we are prepared for either eventuality.
“If we go up Sammie is certainly one we would try and sign and I believe he would be interested, but we would need promotion to have a chance.
“He’s been a fantastic signing and he’s definitely taken us to another level.
“He’s a great lad and a top character as well. He’s a running number 10. He is good at getting beyond a back four onto Ivan Toney’s flicks. He’s very good technically and he can see a pass. He’s also very good at pressing so he ticks a lot of boxes.
“Sammie certainly wouldn’t be out of place in the Championship.”
Posh will also try and tempt Toney to sign an improved contract should they go up, although it’s still thought the 24 year-old will leave London Road.
Posh are also expected to try and turn the loan moves of Josh Knight (Leicester City) and Reece Brown (Forest Green) into permanent transfers no matter what division they are playing in.