Rangers might have to look elsewhere in their efforts to supplement their attack with the news that Peterborough United are hoping to be the centre of a bidding war for their star man Ivan Toney, as reported by The Daily Record.
The 26-goal striker has been the subject of increased speculation since it was confirmed that Posh will be staying in League 1 which triggered the side’s gentleman’s agreement to sell Toney should they fail to get promoted.
However, would be suitors have been warned that they won’t be able to secure his services for a bargain price after Director of Football, Barry Fry, once again re-iterated his club’s stance in the Peterborough Telegraph:
“My chairman is confident we will get what we want for Ivan.
“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 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.”
Fry had previously stated that either side of the Old Firm would have to cough up £15million for Toney but the real figure needed to secure his services is said to be closer to a third of that but he does have a point – clubs will have to cut their cloth accordingly and Championship clubs that fail to get promoted or Premier League clubs that have to reduce costs could see Toney as the ideal option.
A lot will depend on the player himself though, the opportunity to learn under Steven Gerrard is an undeniable factor, as is the lure of European football and the chance to win trophies.
Rangers have managed to conduct their business in relative secrecy so far with both Calvin Bassey and Jon McLaughlin arriving without the Scottish media being privy to the moves, Toney may well be one that Ross Wilson and Gerrard are keeping an eye on but will have plenty of other irons in the fire if Fry gets his way of a bidding war as the Gers recruitment team continue to keep their cards close to their chest.