Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony has confirmed a major exit from the club is still expected this January, as reported by Peterborough Today.
Striker Jonson Clarke-Harris was expected to leave in the summer, with a deadline day move to Bristol Rovers collapsing at the last minute. That seemingly left the 29-year-old in limbo, but he bounced back and has appeared 17 times for Posh this season, scoring six goals.
That record is not enough to convince the club to hang on to their talisman striker, with MacAnthony suggesting a change of direction in terms of playing style was behind their decision to allow him to leave. The long-term chairman also revealed that despite Clarke-Harris showing good form, he will still leave London Road when the window opens once again.
“When Jonno stayed, we couldn’t just park a man with his record until he left in January,” MacAnthony said of the failed transfer. “And to be fair, the manager has used him in plenty of games.
“But the next transfer window is approaching, so the manager made a decision to go with more pace up front because we need to find things out, and ‘Jonno’ accepted it as we knew he would because he is a complete professional.
“He will still contribute, and then he will get a good move with a good contract in January.”
Clarke-Harris has been one of the most prolific strikers outside the Premier League in recent seasons. He has reached double figures in each of the last five campaigns, twice with Bristol Rovers and three times with Posh. Last season, he grabbed 29 goals in all competitions, narrowly failing to reach his career best of 33, achieved in 2020/21.
He was poised to return to the Memorial Ground in September, but a delay with key paperwork meant his departure was not rubber-stamped in time. Since that incident, The Gas have signed Chris Martin, who has bagged two in their last two matches, and dispensed with the services of manager Joey Barton.
Writer’s View
Clarke-Harris had seemingly come back into the fold at London Road, but it’s now been confirmed that despite appearing regularly, he is expected to leave the club. Of course, MacAnthony focuses on a move to a ‘good move with a good contract,’ but that also means a good transfer fee, which is in his club’s best interest.
The big question is where? If Bristol Rovers are still interested, it’s the obvious destination, and Martin was only signed on a short-term deal, but if he’s scoring, will they still stump up the six-figure sum for the striker? Will the new manager want Barton’s former target?
If not, who in League One will? Blackpool have Jordan Rhodes, who may be recalled, and they could have the means to pay for Clarke-Harris, but 70% of other League One teams will not have the budget for such a transfer.
It’ll be interesting to see who the potential suitors are once the window opens, that’s for sure.
