Peterborough United Owner Reveals Summer Transfer Frustration

Peterborough United owner Darragh McAnthony has revealed his side enquired about signing former Bradford City goalkeeper Harry Lewis last summer, on the Hard Truth podcast with quotes via Peterborough Telegraph.

The 26-year-old is currently at League One strugglers Carlisle United after completing a permanent move during the January transfer window, but things could have been very different if a move to Peterborough had gone through.

However, Peterborough United face the possibility of promotion back to the Championship whilst Carlisle United stares relegation in the face ahead of an expected return to League Two.

What was revealed?

Speaking on the latest episode of his podcast, McAnthony revealed that Peterborough United were keen to sign a new number one last summer after Will Norris’ loan deal expired and Lewis was one of the top goalkeepers on the shortlist.

McAnthony stated…

“It can be tough for us to get a player. We enquired early in the summer about the Bradford City goalkeeper [Lewis] and I suspect because it was us the price went up. I bet we were quoted more than what they eventually sold him for.

“But the reality is we always make sure the selling club are looked after in terms of future sales. We look after them with profit from sell-ons, even Premier League clubs like Newcastle United when we sold Toney.”

Who did the club sign instead?

After being quoted a high price for Harry Lewis, Peterborough United turned to Huddersfield Town goalkeeper Nicholas Bilokapic who joined the League One side on a season-long loan deal.

Bilokapic began his reign as the club’s number one but has recently found himself behind experienced goalkeeper Jed Steer as the club continue their march towards the League One play-off automatic promotion places.

In total, the Terriers loanee has made 32 appearances in all competitions this season, keeping ten clean sheets in the process.

Did Peterborough United dodge a bullet?

At the time of the initial interest from Peterborough United, Harry Lewis was fresh from helping his Bradford City side reach the League Two play-off places whilst keeping 18 clean sheets in the process.

During the first half of the campaign, Lewis kept eight clean sheets for the Bantams in League Two but was snapped up by Carlisle United in a bid to keep them in League One.

However, Lewis has kept just one clean sheet in 12 appearances whilst conceding 29 goals in the process. Meanwhile, Peterborough have continued to excel in League One and push towards the top two and it appears that Peterborough made the correct decision in avoiding the move in the summer.