Is League One player of the year Ivan Toney’s departure from Peterborough United now imminent? Salary cap rules means Posh need to get players out quickly

The arrival earlier today (August 25) of forward Jonson Clarke-Harris from Bristol Rovers for a considerable, but undisclosed, fee suggest Toney’s sale is very close.

Last week Posh co-owner Darragh MacAnthony said his club were very close to the salary cap limit for League One of £2.5 million and Clarke-Harris will presumably have commanded wages commensurate with a big transfer fee.

Posh still have plenty of time to get their books in order, but sales are sure to follow, including Toney’s even though MacAnthony is determined to hold out for a £10 million fee.

Toney was today named League One player-of-the-year for the 2019-20 season, He also won the League One Golden Boot after scoring 24 goals in a shortened campaign.

Brentford remain interested in Toney, while Celtic manager Neil Lennon hinted at squad changes after his side crashed out of the Champions League in dismal fashion last night. Celtic and Rangers have previously been linked with Toney as have Premier League side Brighton.

Toney did not play for Posh in their two friendlies at Colchester United earlier this week.

MacAnthony, the current Posh spokesman on transfer news, declined to comment on the Toney situation today.

But Posh manager Darren Ferguson said today: “There have to be players who leave. With the salary cap and the amount of players that I am allowed in it, and having signed players recently, it means some existing members of the squad will have to leave, that is just the way it is and it is something that we are trying to complete as soon as we can.”

Midfdielders Louis Reed and George Cooper are most likely to leave permanently, while younger central midfielders like Kyle Barker and Serhat Tasedemir could go out on loan.