Middlesbrough signed Anfenee Dijksteel from Charlton Athletic on deadline day.
Charlton Athletic boss Lee Bowyer has explained how his side sold Anfenee Diksteel to Middlesbrough on deadline day to fund a move for Peterborough’s Ivan Toney which didn’t materialise, South London Press report.
“The Anfernee money was going to go on [Ivan] Toney. But that didn’t come off,” Bowyer explained.
“We were always trying to keep Lyle [Taylor]. The plan was to play Toney alongside Lyle. That’s why we sold Anfernee [to spend the money in other areas of the pitch].”
Middlesbrough completed the £2 million signing of Diksteel on deadline day after previously seeing two bids knocked back by the Addicks.
The Dutch right-back, who is capable of playing as a wing back, impressed during Charlton’s promotion from League One last season and he is expected to become a regular in Middlesbrough’s defence.
But the deal may not have even happened if Charlton were to know they would miss out on Ivan Toney as Dijksteel’s move to Boro was pushed through to make funds available for the Peterborough man.
Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony took to Twitter to explain how his side turned down Charlton’s bids for the 23-year-old.
Toney netted 23 goals for Posh last season and he was tipped to follow in the footsteps of Derby County’s Jack Marriott and move to the Championship following an excellent campaign in League One.
Charlton have started the campaign in superb fashion, winning 2-1 away at Blackburn Rovers and following that up with another three points at home to Stoke City.
Manager Lee Bowyer, however, will be aware of the challenges the Addicks will face this season and he will be hopeful their disappointment on deadline day won’t come back to haunt them.
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