Many Celtic fans have been talking about the latest comments that Peterborough United director of football Barry Fry has made about Ivan Toney.
Toney has been linked with a move to Parkhead and one of Celtic’s offers has already been rejected by Peterborough. When talking about Celtic’s interest in Toney in an interview with the Daily Mail (via Glasgow Times), Fry said that the Hoops are ‘running out of time’.
Fry revealed that Toney is ‘very close’ to signing for another club in the ‘next couple of days’. He also said that while Celtic were Toney’s ‘preferred choice’, the Hoops are ‘nowhere near’ signing him at this point.
These comments were relayed on Twitter by CelticBible recently. The tweet caught the attention of many Celtic fans and they made their annoyance very clear.
Sounds desperate. Why would he care if he’s close to securing a fee acceptable to him
— Kev Lynch (@GorbalsCelt) August 5, 2020
Have Celtic missed out on Ivan Toney now?
Yes, we've missed out
No, we can still sign him
Sounds like a desperate man
— Wolfe Of Parkhead ???????? (@ParkheadWolfe) August 5, 2020
He’s already agreed a fee. Why is he trying to punt him to us? He’s a cowboy. Take no notice of him
— 10incoming (@Itswayoverthere) August 5, 2020
I just love knowing Peter Lawwell will be sat absolutely seething at Barry Fry and his big mooth https://t.co/QVFkya3BIq
— Liam (@LK95_) August 5, 2020
Glasgow Times had previously reported that Celtic was indeed Toney’s ‘preferred destination’ because of the relationship he shares with the club’s first-team coach, Gavin Strachan.
Fry’s comments attracted the attention of some other Celtic fans, who had different things to say about this developing saga.
Trying to out fox Lawwell, good luck with that. Basically just showed his hand by stating the players preference
— Marko Rollo (@TheWebsEdge) August 5, 2020
Typical Celtic https://t.co/z6qQtNJmOU
— Eunan (@AntifaEunan) August 5, 2020
Barry Fry is clearly trying to bump the price up and is desperate for money. No right minded businessman would deal like this in the public if he’s already secured their asking price.
— Robert Stephen (@RobertStephen27) August 5, 2020
He obviously hasn’t dealt with Peter before.
— 24/7Celts (@7celts) August 5, 2020
Some of these Celtic fans feel that these ‘tactics’ won’t be useful against Peter Lawwell, while some believe that Fry sounds ‘desperate’ because of what he is saying.
It has been reported that Brentford are now ‘close’ to agreeing a fee for Toney. The striker found the net 26 times in all competitions in the 2019/20 season, including 24 times in 32 League One appearances in the most recent campaign (as per Transfermarkt).
His numbers suggest that he’s a very able striker and considering his quality in front of goal, missing out on Toney could be a blow to Celtic.