Ferguson revealed today that Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has accepted defeat in his bid to prise Mclean away from London Road.

The Championship side saw two offers in excess of £1 million rejected for a striker who scored 33 goals last season. Posh wanted a deal worth £5 million.

Ferguson insisted the refusal to sell one of his star assets was a terrific statement of intent by Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony.

Ferguson said: "The deal is dead as far as I am concerned. Wolves made two bids and they would have gone higher, but I spoke with Mick McCarthy and told him they couldn't afford Aaron.

"He has accepted that fact and will now look elsewhere and that's excellent news for us. We don't want to lose any of our better players and Aaron certainly falls into that category.

"It's a real statement of intent by the club and the chairman to refuse to sell. It shows that we mean business again next season."

Wolves were persistent in their courting of Mclean, forcing MacAnthony to interrupt a family break to offer the striker a new contract.

Mclean rejected the offer leading to suggestions that he was keen to at least talk to McCarthy. That will not now happen, but Ferguson is not expecting any attitude problems from Mclean.

Ferguson added: "I have spoken to Aaron and he's fine about the situation. He's a good lad and a good professional and I don't expect anything other than to see him give his all for the club in training and in matches, like he always has."

Posh reported back for pre-season training today. There were not expected to be any new faces in the squad after potential signing Mark Jones fractured his cheekbone in a domestic accident last week – the midfielder is still expected to sign for Posh tomorrow.

Posh are still chasing two new players, but Ferguson doesn't expect either to sign in time to take part in the summer training camp in Marbella next week.

One of the targets is a youngster at a Premier League club.