Peterborough United have placed contract talks with reported Celtic, Wolves and Newcastle United target Siriki Dembele on hold with the forward facing an uncertain future at London Road, as reported by Peterborough Today.
The League One title-chasers may have held onto their fleet-footed playmaker in January – despite a rather well-publicised transfer request – but repeating the trick in the summer may be an even bigger challenge.
Dembele is due to become a free agent in 2022 and, according to reports coming out of Cambridgeshire, talks over an extension have been placed on hold as Peterborough count the cost of an ongoing financial crisis.
The skilful 24-year-old will be offered a new deal if Darren Ferguson’s side are promoted to the Championship – and they are well placed to do just that, despite losing 3-1 at home to title rivals Hull in midweek.
But if Peterborough fall short in the promotion battle, Dembele is all but certain to leave. With clubs in the top-tier interested, the former Grimsby starlet is very unlikely to stick around for another season in League One.
“If we go up we will offer Siriki an improved contract because he’s such a talented player, but whether or not he signs it is another matter,” says director of football Barry Fry.
According to The Chronicle, a Newcastle side crying out for a creative, twinkle-toed attacking midfielder scouted Dembele earlier this season.
The 11-assist schemer also has admirers at Wolves, Crystal Palace, QPR and Derby while there remains a chance that he could join younger brother Karamoko at Celtic (TEAMtalk).
Posh owner Darragh MacAnthony previously suggested that it may take a bid of around £15 million to lure Dembele away from London Road.
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