Sheffield United scouts 'watched' Jonson Clarke-Harris score hat-trick for Peterborough amidst talk of a move for 27-goal star

Barry Fry, Peterborough United's director of football, claims Sheffield United's scouts were at Posh's 7-0 win over Accrington Stanley at the weekend after the Blades were linked with hat-trick hero Jonson Clarke-Harris.

By Danny Hall

Published 30th Mar 2021, 10:19 BST

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The 26-year-old former Rotherham United man has been in inspired form for Posh this season, with his hat-trick against Stanley on Saturday taking his tally to 27 for the season.

Recent reports have linked United, Scottish champions Rangers and Bournemouth with a move for Clarke-Harris, who moved to London Road in the summer from Bristol Rovers.

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“There were several Championship clubs chasing Jonson in January and Bournemouth were the most persistent," Fry revealed.

"We had several offers for the player, but we turned them down flat, even though we could probably get five times what we paid for him.

“We want promotion this season so there’s no way we would have let him go. It was the same situation with Ivan Toney last season. We could have sold him in January, but we were never going to. The owners have done great to resist cashing in at a time when football clubs are struggling financially.

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Peterborough United's Jonson Clarke-Harris (right) celebrates scoring their side's fifth goal of the game, completing a hat-trick, against Accrington Stanley: Nigel French/PA Wire.

Peterborough United's Jonson Clarke-Harris (right) celebrates scoring their side's fifth goal of the game, completing a hat-trick, against Accrington Stanley: Nigel French/PA Wire.

“Rangers have been to a lot of our matches this season and they were there on Saturday [against Accrington]. Sheffield United were also there, but West Brom weren’t.

“I didn’t have a conversation about Jonson with any of them though.

“Like with Ivan, we don’t have a single concern that transfer talk will affect Jonson. He is single-minded and his focus is entirely on winning promotion with us.

“He’s a humble man who constantly gives the praise to his teammates.”

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Barry Fry Jonson Clarke-Harris

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