The latest comments of Peterborough sporting director Barry Fry regarding reported Rangers target Siriki Dembele will have a few Gers fans raising an eyebrow.
The Ibrox club were mentioned specifically by Fry alongside a host of other clubs as allegedly coming to watch the attacker in December 2020 after an impressive season from Dembele in League One.
Fry claimed that Rangers, Celtic, Fulham and even the Scottish national team had been to watch the player, who scored 12 goals and laid on 12 assists last season.
The outspoken London Road director even claimed that the Gers had “watched Siriki twice” [Peterborough Telegraph].
The fine form of 24-year-old Dembele helped Peterborough to promotion to the Championship despite the fact the player reportedly handed in a transfer request in January.
Now – with only a year left on his contract – “club policy” at the Posh dictates that the player will be sold this window, so the club do not lose him for nothing next season.
However despite all the posturing and namedropping in the press, there appears to have been little movement regarding Dembele with Fry’s latest quotes containing more than a hint of frustration.
“It’s been quiet as far as bids are concerned,” Fry told the Peterborough Telegraph.
“And it could be that Siriki starts the season with us. If he does he would best advised to play his heart out for Posh as the transfer window remains open until September 7 and that gives him a month to impress someone.”
Barry Fry wouldn’t be doing his job if he never touted players in and out of the club but there appears to be more than a smidgen of Rangers being namedropped to big up any interest.
The attacker’s brother, Karamoko, is a Celtic player with the Parkhead club also said to be interested but so far neither Old Firm club has taken the plunge.
This is no suggestion that Rangers haven’t watched the player, but the fact there has yet to be a bid made for the attacker suggests at the very least that he is not the Ibrox club’s first choice.
Whilst there have been no bids for Dembele, reports Rangers have moved for another attacker certainly sound ominous for an underperforming Ibrox pair.
