Toney will justify his price tag

New Peterborough United striker Ivan Toney is confident he can justify his reported £650k price tag.

Posh have not denied reports in Newcastle that they paid ‘The Magpies’ what would be the fifth highest transfer fee in the club’s history for the 22 year-old.

Toney, who made his debut at Rochdale last weekend, said: “Peterborough actually bid for me at the start of the summer and I took my time as it was a big decision to make. I’m convinced it is now the right one and I hope I can repay the manager’s confidence in me.

“The style of play and the club’s reputation (for improving strikers and selling them on for profit) attracted me.

“I’m not thinking about the next move though. It’s all about settling down here and scoring enough goals to help us win promotion.

“If I get a big move after that so be it - it’s what happens in football. But I want to prove a point here. I want to be worth my place in the team.”

If Posh did pay £650,000 for Toney it would make the striker the fifth most expensive player in the club’s history after forwards Britt Assombalonga (£1.25 million) and Tyrone Barnett (£1.1 million), and midfielders Michael Bostwick (£800,000) and Jack Payne (£750,000).

But Posh boss Steve Evans is adamant his long pursuit of a player who started his career at local rivals Northampton will pay off.

“Ivan is the striker I’ve wanted all summer,” Evans said. “He will complement the other strikers at the club as he’s big and strong. The last thing I wanted was four clones up front.”

Toney moved to Newcastle from Cobblers for £250,000 in August 2015, but he played just four times for the topflight club.

He spent last season on loan at Wigan and Scunthorpe in League One. He scored eight goals in 13 starts for Scunthorpe.

Ivan Toney: “I have a point to prove here.”