Peterborough United are in a battle to retain the services of star Josh Knight as interest intensifies over the out-of-contract centre-back.
The 26-year-old played 57 games across Posh’s 2023/24 season which came to an end after their loss in the play-off semi-final to eventual winners Oxford United.
Posh finished fourth place in League One but were overcome by Des Buckingham’s team at the Kassam Stadium before drawing 1-1 at home and fell short in the playoffs for a second season in a row after last year’s loss to Sheffield Wednesday.
Knight’s contract will expire at the end of June with Darren Ferguson offering the defender a new deal to remain at the club for next season.
However, the Peterborough Telegraph are reporting that multiple other clubs are trying to tempt the defender away from London Road, with one unnamed overseas club offering ‘a lucrative deal’ for his services.
Multiple Championship sides are also shortlisting the Posh number 5, with reports suggesting that the second-tier clubs interested are not competing at the top end of the league.
The 6ft 1in centre-back has previously played at that level with loan spells at Wycombe Wanderers and later Peterborough before signing permanently for Darren Ferguson’s side in 2021 from Leicester City.
Knight had his most productive season yet, with six goals across the campaign, including the only goal that the London Road club scored across the two legs of the play-off match against Oxford. He tallied up 13 clean sheets across his season, as well as 38 interceptions and 22 tackles.
Posh owner Darragh MacAnthony was unsure of if the defender would remain at the club next season, telling his Hard Truth podcast [Quotes via Peterborough Telegraph]: “Josh has loved it here, and we have loved having him. He will get plenty of offers, but he’s a Leicester lad so not far from us so you never know.”
Writer’s View
Peterborough falling short in the play-offs meant that clubs would surely be sniffing about their best players for moves away this summer. Josh Knight formed a very strong backline partnership with Ronnie Edwards, and with his contract expiring multiple clubs are looking to Knight as a free option to shore up their defences.
Posh gave him his first taste of senior football after leaving Leicester and he has been a loyal player to the club, so perhaps he will take the contract extension and continue the partnership as Peterborough continue to try and break back into the Championship. With the calibre of teams entering League One next season, perhaps that challenge will tempt him to remain at London Road.
