‘Very frustrating’: Director reacts as Sunderland are linked with his £6m ace

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Peterborough United director Barry Fry has rubbished rumours linking League One challengers Sunderland with a move for the £6 million-rated Jonson Clarke-Harris, speaking to the Peterborough Telegraph. 

The outspoken Fry was never going to let this lie for long.

Reports emerged earlier this week suggested that Peterborough’s mercurial number nine could be on his way out of London Road, with the club’s Championship status on the line.

But Fry has wasted little time in distancing himself from those claims.

“These rumours are very frustrating,” Fry says, claiming that Sunderland have made ‘no contact’ for Clarke-Harris thus far.

“We’re working hard on our transfer targets and I keep getting interrupted answering questions about stories that aren’t true.” 

Will Sunderland join Peterborough in the Championship?

Clarke-Harris has scored just four times this season.

But you only have to look at his record in the division below to understand why Sunderland may be interested.  

The journeyman 27-year-old hit the target 31 times in 45 games as Peterborough stormed to promotion last season.

After the best run of form in his senior career, Clarke-Harris was linked with the likes of West Brom and Sheffield United.

Even Scottish Premiership champions Rangers were linked.

Sunderland, however, have a striker capable of matching Clarke-Harris’ remarkable tally from that outstanding 2020/21 campaign.

Ross ‘the Loch Ness Drogba’ Stewart has hit the target 18 times in 26 League One games for the Black Cats.

The Scot has ensured that the talismanic presence of Charlie Wyke is not being missed at the Stadium of Light. 

Peterborough completed the signing of 21-year-old whizzkid Callum Morton on loan from West Brom this week.

Fry and co will be hoping that Morton, a prolific goaslcorer during a previous spell at Northampton Town, can ease the burden on Clarke-Harris’ shoulders. 

Morton arrived after Fry ruled out a move for one-time Posh favourite Dwight Gayle.

He believes that West Brom are a more likely destination for the Newcastle misfit, though the Baggies have since reunited Valerien Ismael with Daryl Dike.