Peterborough Utd’s transfer warning alerts Bristol Rovers as ‘GOAT’ claim made

Peterborough United co-owner Darragh MacAnthony has confirmed three League One clubs are interested in signing former Bristol Rovers striker Jonson Clarke-Harris.

Clarke-Harris is on the transfer list at London Road, and removed him of the captaincy with Ephron Mason-Clark now the Posh skipper. The 29-year-old had long interest from two League One clubs, though their identity is at the moment unclear, but now there’s a update that could be of interest to the Gas.

Interestingly, MacAnthony added that a ‘third club has just come out of nowhere’, which could get Rovers fans tails wagging. It is a mere coincidence, but the club have most recently been taken over by Kuwaiti-based businessman Hussain AlSaeed, and it was reported earlier this month by the Bristol Post that there would likely be more money available to spend on the team this month.

It is understood that the fresh injection of investment could mean a bigger budget for Joey Barton for the remainder of the window, having already been backed. Before AlSaeed’s arrival, a play-off push had been spoken within the coaching team, and so far this summer the manager has landed most of the transfer targets he has asked for.

Before Rovers’ meeting with Peterborough in April, Joey Barton admitted that he would be keen to work with Clarke-Harris if the opportunity presented itself. The 40-year-old never got to coach the striker but believed that he should be playing at a higher level.

Even if Rovers aren’t one of the three clubs interested in Clarke-Harris, they still have a slight interest as to where he will end up as they have a sell-on-fee on him. In an ideal world, Clarke-Harris would have earned a big-money move to the Championship which in turn would have landed them a windfall, but now a move to a third tier rival looks to be on the cards. It means that they are unlikely to get anything that will change their fortunes massively, but it does however cut out of the middle man should Rovers consider a return.

A total of eight arrivals have come to the Mem so far, and he club have already paid up to £300,000 for Connor Taylor, and there have been strong suggestions from fans for Rovers to make Clarke-Harris the third player to re-sign for them. Peterborough however have proven to be tough negotiators over the years and given that Clarke-Harris is a proven scorer at this level, he won’t come cheap.

He scored 27 times in 52 games in the blue and white quarters and at Peterborough, scored 75 in 150 appearances and was the joint-Golden Boot winner last season. His contract expires next summer and that should reduce the price but Peterborough would hope to recoup the reported £1m they paid to Rovers for his services back in August 2020.

MacAnthony said on his Hard Truth podcast: “I have a figure I want for him and if it isn’t met he will stay here. I’m being realistic.

“I’m not asking for three to four million, but you are trying to buy the best goalscorer outside the Championship. He’s the GOAT (Greatest Of All-Time) in League One.

"I paid a substantial sum for ‘Jonno’ to help us get promotion and he’s at his peak now so put your money where your mouth is if you want him.”