Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony has insisted Ipswich Town target Jack Taylor is not for sale.
The Blues have approached their League One rivals regarding a January move for the central midfielder, having also trailed him during the summer as Kieran McKenna built his squad ahead of the new season.
MacAnthony would not comment on Ipswich interest in Taylor, who was valued by Posh at £10million in the wake of Town’s summer interest, but did stress the 24-year-old is not for sale.
“I would never comment on transfer speculation the day before a game,” he told the Peterborough Telegraph. “And no he is not for sale.”
Town are searching for reinforcements in the middle of midfield due to a knee injury which is almost certain to end Dominic Ball’s season, while Panutche Camara has undergone a third operation on a groin problem and is likely to be missing for several months.
Massimo Luongo, who was previously on loan with Ipswich a decade ago and is still contracted to Middlesbrough, has been training with McKenna’s squad in recent days, with the Town boss keeping his cards close to his chest when discussing potential additions.
“Massimo Luongo is a Middlesbrough player and is still contracted with them," said the Northern Irishman.
“Of course we have a good relationship with Middlesbrough (McKenna worked alongside Michael Carrick at Manchester United) and I know Massimo as well (having been his youth team coach at Tottenham), which has been useful.
“But he’s a Middlesbrough player and his future is still in their hands. It's for Middlesbrough to make that decision and announce that decision in due course."
McKenna continued: “I think in general the policy on speculation always has to be to respect the other clubs.
“I don’t think it’s fair and right for me to talk about players who are under contract at any other clubs."
“We’re really trying (to do business early). That’s been the idea all along. We have six games in January so having the best squad available for those six games would be an advantage.
“Of course we want to get our business done as early as possible. We’ve been preparing as well as we can, but a lot of things are out of your control in any transfer window.
"When there’s just been a World Cup and a winter break for teams in the two divisions above you that creates a lot more uncertainty in the market and in the decision-making of clubs."
The Blues face Oxford this afternoon.
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