‘Running out of time’: Celtic warned about 24-year-old goal machine, Parkhead his ‘preferred choice’

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Celtic are “running out of time” if they want to bring Ivan Toney to Parkhead, Barry Fry has told the Daily Mail.

The 24-year-old was superb for Peterborough United last season, scoring 26 goals in just 39 appearances in all competitions, despite the English League One campaign being cut short in March.

However, the Posh didn’t succeed in sealing promotion, so it’s looking increasingly likely that Toney will up sticks and head elsewhere.

Celtic are believed to be on the lookout for another striker, with West Ham’s Albian Ajeti and free agent Steven Fletcher also reportedly on the club’s radar (Daily Record).

As for Toney, Fry says the Hoops would’ve been his “preferred choice” but he hasn’t heard anything back from the Scottish Premiership champions after turning down a £4million bid.

“They are running out of time now,” the Peterborough director of football told the Daily Mail.

“The lad is very close to signing for someone else in the next couple of days. Celtic would have been his preferred choice, but they are nowhere near it.

“I heard from Ivan’s agent to say Celtic were coming back. That was Sunday evening after their first game. They had heard Celtic would be coming back, but I haven’t heard anything.”

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Over the past few weeks, Fry has spoken publicly about his transfer stance on Toney, and this latest communication is worrying for Celtic.

Rangers were previously linked with Toney but they’ve brought in two new strikers so they look set in that area, while Brentford are also said to be keen on him.

With the Bees failing in their attempt to reach the Premier League, it gives Celtic an advantage in terms of offering top-tier and European football, but they really need to speed it up.