Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony revealed Norwich City was ‘irritated’ in the winter window after a failed bid for a Posh player.
However, the chairman believes the Canaries will return with a fresh bid for Emmanuel Fernandez this summer after the 23-year-old centre-back. The original proposed deal, reportedly worth £2.5 million, would have seen Fernandez loaned back to Peterborough for the remainder of the season.
Fernandez’s Decision Surprises Posh
MacAnthony admitted he was “gobsmacked” by Fernandez’s choice to reject the Championship side’s offer, describing it as a “fabulous deal” for both the player and the club. He suggested the 6ft 6in defender might have felt nervous about the big step up to a higher level, having only played 26 EFL games since joining Peterborough from non-league Ramsgate in 2021.
“Norwich are a very progressive club who buy lower league talent and develop them,” MacAnthony said on his Hard Truth podcast. “Manny would have benefited from their coaching and could have been a regular in their first team. He has all the attributes needed to have a great career.”
“Norwich became irritated and I don’t blame them. Manny’s had a lot of grief in his life in the last 18 months, but I believe Norwich will try again in the summer.”
Deadline Day Bids for Key Players
In addition to the Fernandez saga, Peterborough United also fielded bids for forwards Ricky-Jade Jones and Kwame Poku, as well as midfielder Hector Kyprianou, during the final hours of the transfer window. However, none of the offers resulted in a deal.
MacAnthony revealed that five Championship clubs made bids for Jones, but the 21-year-old forward chose to remain at Peterborough. “He will go for millions in the summer,” MacAnthony predicted.
Poku also attracted significant interest, with a Championship club offering £3 million plus £3 million in add-ons shortly before the deadline. However, Peterborough were only prepared to sell if the 22-year-old was loaned back for the rest of the season, a condition the buying club did not meet. MacAnthony hinted that Poku’s injury earlier in the season reduced the volume of interest, noting that Burnley had previously shown intent to bid.
As for Kyprianou, the club rejected a late bid for the midfielder. MacAnthony praised the player’s loyalty, stating, “He wanted to stay and help the club, which is fine. He will leave in the summer.”
Writer’s View
Peterborough United’s transfer strategy appears focused on maximising returns in the summer, with MacAnthony clearly anticipating a busy window. Fernandez’s decision to stay put for now may be beneficial if he continues to develop and maintain his form. However, securing new contracts or transfer fees for Jones, Poku, and Kyprianou will be crucial to avoiding the risk of losing them for nothing.
