Speaking on his YouTube channel (quotes via Peterborough Telegraph), Peterborough United chairman and co-owner Darragh MacAnthony has discussed the club’s failed midfielder search.
Peterborough United director of football Barry Fry revealed that the club had been in talks with a long-term midfielder target over the course of two months as they looked to strike a deal with an unnamed midfielder. However, the deal failed to materialise after the midfielder opted to remain at his current club.
Speaking upon the closure of the window, club chairman Darragh MacAnthony discussed how the deal fell through and why they opted against moving for other options instead, despite having deals agreed for other players and being offered Championship players.
MacAnthony also revealed that the said player they wanted was on loan in League One last season and is currently at Scottish club, but decided to remain at his current club to stay and fight for a place. He said:
“We were gutted about that one. It looked like it would happen last Friday, but then the player decided he wanted to fight for his place at his current club which we understand.
“We actually agreed deals with three clubs for midfielders, but for one reason or another, they didn’t happen.
“It’s the only area of the team we failed to get the manager his first target, but he told me not to waste the club’s money on signing someone for the sake of it.
“We don’t have the greatest depth in some areas, but we will get through to January and see what our situation is then. “The manager is happy with how the squad is developing and so am I. I am also happy with the business we have done. It’s been prudent. Seven of the players who arrived have been free transfers and if the players out on loan do eventually sign for the other club we are not far apart in money spent compared to money received.
“We were offered other players, but bringing Championship players in on big money on loan could prevent our own young players from developing and we don’t want that.”
While missing out on their number one midfield target is a big blow, the performances of Darren Ferguson’s current midfielders have shown that it may have been have for the said player to dislodge their current starting players. Louis Reed, Josh Knight and George Boyd have been impressive in recent weeks, with Marcus Maddison also on top form.
