Peterborough United retain an interest in Szmodics despite Broom arrival and squad numbers released on Wednesday

Sammie Szmodics celebrates a Posh goal. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.

Posh have tantalisingly left a squad place open for the 2020-21 League One campaign with co-owner Darragh MacAnthony previously teasing that fans ‘shouldn’t rule anyone out.’

Szmodics was at Posh on loan from Bristol City in the second-half of last season and was a roaring success. He scored four goals in 10 appearances, created three others and won three selections to the League One team of the week.

Szmodics was an unused substitute in City’s pre-season friendly against Swindon at the weekend.

The Peterborough Telegraph asked Ferguson yesterday (August 31) whether or not Szmodics was still a possibility. We also asked him if Ryan Broom’s arrival from Cheltenham Town for a fee had meant Szmodics was no longer required.

Ferguson said: “We are 95% there with the squad, I can’t tell you who the last place is for, but if the opportunity to sign Sammie arose we would of course be interested.

“The fact Ryan is here now doesn’t change that. We need two number 10s and Ryan is also a very accomplished wing-back and wide midfield player. He prefers the number 10 role and he plays it very well so we will just have to wait and see.

“Obviously we have to be careful now there is a salary cap. We have too many players at the club at the moment and we need some to go. We could get four or five of the younger ones out on loan which would help.”

Broom scored a cracking goal for Posh in Saturday’s friendly against Coventry City.

Youngsters Serhat Tasdemir and Flynn Clarke are also familiar with the number 10 role, but are more likely to go out on loan than play in the first team.

George Boyd, George Cooper, Louis Reed and Jason Naismith have all been told to find new clubs as they won’t be included in the first-team squad this season. The transfer window is open until the middle of October.

Posh named a 28-man squad last week, but want to bring that down to 21/22 before the League One season starts on September 12.

The Posh squad numbers are due to be released tomorrow (September 2).