Seven-figure price-tag emerges as Peterborough United lay out bullish transfer stance | OneFootball

Peterborough United have battled to break out of the relegation places over the last few weeks and one of the bright spots in helping them do so is Siriki Dembele – and after some impressive showings, the club’s chairman Darragh MacAnthony has now told the Hard Truth Podcast (via Peterborough Today) that he will want ‘a premium price of £7m’ to consider selling him.

The 25-year-old has been with Posh throughout their tenure in League One and was a key figure as they finally sealed promotion back to the second tier last season. With 11 goals and ten assists, he was one of the most threatening forwards in the entire league and he has only continued to excel a league higher.

In 11 starts this year, he has already managed four goals an assist in what is his maiden Championship campaign. He’s Peterborough’s current top scorer and constantly threatens opposition defences with his pace and dribbling ability.

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With the player continuing to shine, the club’s chairman has now spoken out on the Hard Truth Podcast (via Peterborough Today) to speak about how he would want a ‘premium’ price to even think about letting Dembele go and that he won’t be for sale in January. He said: “He’s not in the shop window. We are not actively looking to sell him in January so any clubs who think it’s ‘bargain city’ as he only has six months left on his contract can think again.

“It wouldn’t be worth it to a club of our size with our owners. Josh King had six months left on his contract last January and he went for £10 million (Bournemouth to Everton).

“Now if a club offered us a premium price of say £7 million with add ons we would have a decision to make, but if he did go we have plans B and C in place to cope.”

Peterborough then are understandably not keen to lose one of their prized assets in the winter transfer window – and any side that does fancy testing the resolve of Posh owner Darragh MacAnthony, then it will have to be a large bid to make him even consider parting ways with the forward.

Siriki Dembele has already proven his mettle as a top third tier talent and has continued to be brilliant in the Championship. With age on his side and a lot of valuable EFL experience already under his belt, he is an attractive proposition for prospective buyers.

However, the club will not want to lose him and £7m will likely be too high of a price for any team to want to pay right now. There won’t be many sides in the second tier who could match that and there may not be anyone in the top flight who fancy the gamble yet – so it may be enough to ward off interest for now.