Peterborough United chairman Barry Fry has admitted that star striker Ivan Toney is closing in on a move away from London Road but adds that the mystery suitor is ‘not Celtic’, while speaking to the Mail (23 July, page 86).
With clubs on both sides of the border under pressure to balance their summer transfer plans with a worrying financial situation, you would be forgiven for assuming that a former Newcastle youngster could be priced out of a move away from his League One employers this summer.
The always outspoken Fry admitted to the Mail (9 June, page 79) recently that both Celtic and Rangers had shown an interest in Toney.
But, with Peterborough demanding a staggering £15 million who has spent the last five years in League One, it seemed that the Glasgow giants were simply lacking the financial muscle to force their way to the front of the queue.
“We have given a club permission to speak to Ivan because they met our valuation,” Fry adds today, while refusing to identify the team in question.
“It’s not Celtic but, out of courtesy, I let Celtic know what had happened. They asked to be kept informed and we informed them. I haven’t heard from them since then.”
Despite the fact that Odsonne Edouard seems set to stay for one last season in green and white, determined as he is to seal a record tenth successive Scottish Premiership title, Celtic continue to be linked with a host of prolific centre-forwards.
Toney scored 26 goals in 39 games in 2019/20, though a remarkable run of form in front of goal was not enough to secure a play-off place for Peterborough.
Premier League clubs like Watford and Brighton have also been linked and perhaps they would be more willing to pay the £15 million Fry is after.
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