WHY A LOW-PROFILE PRE-SEASON IS JUST FINE FOR POMPEY BOSS –
PETERBOROUGH have revealed Pompey are ‘miles’ away from meeting their valuation of Matt Godden.
However, the door remains open for Kenny Jackett to return with an improved offer to capture the free-scoring striker.
TheBluesareeagerto bolster their forward line and Godden, who netted 18 times in his first full season in League One, has been pinpointed as a solution.
Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony previously admitted an opening bid had been rejected for the 27-year-old.
That is claimed to be around the £425,000 mark–the amount the London Road outfit splashed out to recruit him from Stevenage 12 months ago.
Interest remains with Pompey for a striker who has netted in each of his last three encounters with Jackett’s team.
According to boss Darren Ferguson, a fee for Godden has still to be thrashed out.
Yet in a summer which has seen Posh spend £1.3m on Mo Eisa, he has hinted they may be willing to cash in.
Ferguson told the Peterborough Telegraph: ‘I did have a conversation with Kenny Jackett about Matt but that’s as far as it went as the clubs are miles apart on the valuation.
‘I like Matt. He’s a really good professional and I’m happy to have him here fighting for a starting place.
‘Obviously we have to be mindful of balancing the books but we are certainly not under pressure to sell anyone right now.’
Godden possesses an excellent lower-league record, netting 35 times in 87 appearances for Stevenage to earn his move to Peterboroughlast summer.
Kenny Jackett has conceded Pompey are set to lose Nathan Thompson. The right-back is still to sign a new deal at Fratton Park – with his current two-year contract expiring on June 30. Meanwhile, James Bolton becamethe Blues’ first arrival of the summer earlier this month on a free transfer after leaving League One rivals Shrewsbury.
Speaking to Pompey’s official website, the boss said: ‘The addition of James Bolton does naturally cover Nathan.
‘I haven’t read Nathan has signed anywhere but, from our point of view, it looks like he is heading for pastures new.’
Thompson made 78 appearances and scored once for Pompey after arriving from Swindon in June 2017. Matt Godden bagged 18 goals last season – his first full term in League One