Peterborough United believe a ‘bidding war’ is possible over star striker Ivan Toney

The Posh director of football revealed to the Peterborough Telegraph he’d knocked back a bid of £4 million plus add ons from Major Soccer League club New York Red Bulls earlier this month.

Posh are still holding out for a fee closer to £10 million for a 24 year-old who banged in 26 goals in a shortened League One campaign in 2019-20.

And they believe circumstances could work in their favour despite all the scare stories surrounding finances in football.

“My chairman is confident we will get what we want for Ivan,” Fry stated.

“And that’s much more than the £4 million plus many add ons that New York offered. I was surprised by that offer as they have plenty of money.

“The chairman can see top clubs ignoring foreign players in favour of spending less money in the UK market.

“We will see, but I believe other factors will be in play and there could well be a bidding war when the Premier League and Championship seasons are over.

“For instance if Bournemouth get relegated from the Premier League they might have to sell (star striker) Callum Wilson, but they would need to replace him.

“It’s similar at Fulham as if they don’t go up this season they might have to cut costs and let their centre-forward (Aleksander Mitrovic) go and again they’d need to get someone else in.

“It’s my belief there won’t be a better striker in the country at the price we want than Ivan Toney this summer and there will be plenty of clubs trying to sign him.

“They won’t get him on the cheap though and we know his value.”

Bundesliga club RB Leipzig are also understood to have enquired about Toney without making a bid, while Scottish giants Celtic and Rangers are reportedly monitoring League One’s Golden Boot winner.

Championship title favourites Leeds United have also been linked with Toney who bagged 49 goals in 94 appearances (77 starts) for Posh following his arrival for a bargain £350k from Newcastle United in August, 2018.

Newcastle are entitled to a healthy percentage of any profit Posh make, but it’s not the 40% reported in some quarters.

Posh have also said they are prepared to gamble on keeping Toney until January if they don’t receive offers they consider acceptable.

Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony said: “In the current climate clubs will try it on price-wise with Ivan.

“They think they can get him for £4 million right up until the point they realise they can’t!”