The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Posh could sign three new players, but they will probably settle for two
Posh boss Darren Ferguson has been told he can sign three new players before the transfer window shuts on August 31... but he’s not expected to fully take up that offer.
Posh remain keen on signing a new central midfielder and one other player in an as yet undisclosed position.
However Ferguson is not expecting any new arrivals before Saturday’s tough Championship home fixture against West Bromwich Albion.
“It’s doubtful we will have anyone in before Saturday, “Ferguson said. “But I’m hopeful something will happen before the transfer window closes.
“We definitely need one and possibly two.”
Posh co-owner Darragh MacAnthony has revealed the club have moved on to transfer plan B as the young Premier League defensive midfielder they were promised on loan has broken into his current club’s first-team squad so might not be coming to the Weston Homes Stadium after all.
MacAnthony spent last Sunday analysing data and contacting scouts as new transfer targets were assessed.
“I spent nine and a half hours on Sunday working on plans B, C and D,” MacAnthony said.
“I have the manager’s back on this so he can get on with the things he could be doing. If he had to spend the time on this it would drive him mad.
“The player we were promised might not be coming so we have to plan accordingly. It’s no secret we are after a central midfielder and a player in one other position.
“If the manager wants three players he can have them, but it will most likely be two. And they have to be right for the club and the way we want to play.
“I’ve been checking data and speaking to scouts. Any
new players have to be right fitness wise as we can’t spend two months bringing them up to speed.
“Age, cost and personality are all important and we’ve been revisiting players we thought we’d missed out and
checking if they are playing regularly and whether or not they might be available now.
“People have been saying we need bigger players to head out these set pieces, but we won’t be getting 6ft 7in players in who can’t play football.
We won’t be signing a couple of giraffes and have 20% of our team unable to pass a football.”
Posh are known to be longterm admirers of West Ham United’s 21 year-old defensive midfielder Conor Coventry who has been an unused substitute in the Hammers’ first two Premier League matches of the season.
Portsmouth have ended their interest in transfer-listed Posh goalkeeper Dan Gyollai.