Peterborough will demand a “premium price” for forward Siriki Dembele if a club makes an approach during the January transfer window, according to the Championship club’s chairman Darragh McAnthony.

The 25-year-old will be available on a free transfer at the end of the season and has been linked to the likes of Rangers, Celtic, Newcastle, Sheffield United, West Brom, Bournemouth, Stoke and Fulham. However, McAnthony claims they will not be forced into selling him on the cheap in the New Year:

“Siriki is a top-end Championship talent. He’s not in the shop window. We are not actively looking to sell him in January so any clubs who think it’s ‘bargain city’ as he only has six months left on his contract can think again. It wouldn’t be worth it to a club of our size with our owners.”

“Now, if a club offered us a premium price of say £7 million with add ons we would have a decision to make, but if he did go we have plans B and C in place to cope. Opposition teams will all treat Siriki as one of our biggest dangers, but it’s not all about him. Our season doesn’t depend on his presence.”

Many would take issue with McAnthony’s claims that Dembele is a “top end” Championship player. He has scored just four goals in 13 appearances so far this campaign; two of which have come in his last two matches against Hull City and QPR.

The Gers could do with strengthening their options up front, after struggling to score goals in the past few months, but Dembele’s goal record hardly makes him worth such a sizeable outlay in January.

If the Scottish champions do make their move for Dembele, it will be when he is available on a free transfer next summer.