Peterborough United chairman believes transfer market will soon favour Posh as Barry Fry completes a deal and calls his club’s fans ‘lifesavers’

MacAnthony, who revealed Posh director of football Barry Fry has just completed a transfer deal in the middle of the lockdown, believes top-flight clubs won’t be able to afford overseas stars and will instead start looking at players like Posh striker Ivan Toney.

MacAnthony also described Posh fans who have already renewed their season tickets for the 2020-21 campaign as ‘lifesavers’.

“When this is all over the transfer market could well benefit lower league clubs,” MacAnthony said. “At the moment Premier League clubs might have someone like Ivan Toney as third option behind players from say Spain and Italy.

“But I doubt there will be as much money flying around next season so they might instead start looking at players in the £5 million to £15 million price range.

“It will be much hotter market around those sorts of players. It could take the transfer market at the top end two-to-three years to catch up.

“And Barry Fry might just be the only man to complete a transfer deal during this crisis! He’s 75 and he never stops. He text me today (April 10) to tell me he’s agreed a deal with one of our players currently out on loan to make the move permanent.

“I’m also thrilled with the number of fans who have already renewed their season tickets. They are lifesavers and if you can afford to do it, I’d urge others to buy season tickets or club merchandise.

“We do have wealthy owners who are committed to club, but we also have other businesses to look after. I’m not begging for help, just asking.”

Posh have sold over 1,200 season tickets for the 2019-20 campaign.

The Posh players currently out on loan are Alex Woodyard (Tranmere), Jason Naismith (Hibs), Mark O’Hara (Motherwell), Callum Cooke (Bradford City), Kyle Barker (Wrexham), George Cooper (Plymouth) and Marcus Maddison (Hull).