Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony has told clubs chasing star striker Jonson Clarke-Harris to “put your money where your mouth is,” when speaking in his Hard Truth podcast.
Last season’s League One top goal scorer was placed on the transfer list in May, despite scoring 29 goals in all competitions for Posh in 2022/23.
MacAnthony confirmed that two third-tier sides were interested in the prolific forward, with a further interested party having “just come out of nowhere.”
The 29-year-old forward is in the last year of his contract and has scored 75 goals in 118 appearances since his £1 million move from Bristol Rovers in August 2020.
He scored his first goal of this year’s campaign in an impressive win over Barnsley on Tuesday night, having started all three of the Cambridgeshire-based outfit’s league fixtures so far.
Speaking on the latest edition of the Hard Truth podcast, the Peterborough United chairman also discussed the future of England U20 international Ronnie Edwards and back-up forward Kabongo Tshimanga.
The Irishman revealed there have been bids from two clubs for Tshimanga, with ambitious League Two outfit Wrexham thought to be one of them.
Meanwhile Edwards has reportedly been subject of interest from West Ham United, Bournemouth and Rangers, and it is expected that three unnamed Premier League Clubs will make bids before the transfer deadline.
The 20-year-old defender and the 26-year-old attacker are not officially on the club’s transfer list.
What’s been said?
MacAnthony said: “Two clubs from League One are interested in ‘Jonno’ and a third club has just come out of nowhere.
“But I have a figure I want for him and if it isn’t met he will stay here. I’m being realistic. I’m not asking for three to four million, but you are trying to buy the best goal scorer outside the Championship. He’s the GOAT (Greatest Of All-Time) in League One.
“I paid a substantial sum for ‘Jonno’ to help us get promotion and he’s at his peak now so put your money where your mouth is if you want him.”
Young centre-back Edwards is contracted until the end of the season, but it is clear the Harlow-born defender is destined for bigger and better things, with his departure expected this window.
“Factually I know three Premier League clubs will make bids for Ronnie before the transfer deadline,” MacAnthony added.
“But they will sign other players first as they don’t want their first signing to be a 20 year-old from League One.
“Ronnie is playing at a different level right now and if he goes we will have to decide whether to replace him with a powerful centre-back or with another ball-playing one which will be a decision for the manager.”
“Finding one who can be dominant and be good on the ball would be difficult and probably too expensive for a League One club.”
Writer’s View
It is set to be a busy period of departures from the Weston Homes Stadium in the closing weeks of the summer window.
Peterborough have used youth-focussed recruitment so far, with a number of older members of the squad having already left the club this window.
Posh are set to recoup multi-million fees for Clarke-Harris and Edwards, whilst the sale of Tshimanga could land them somewhere in the region of half a million pounds.
It remains unclear how much of this will be invested back into the playing squad, following fears earlier this month that the club could be placed into administration.
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