Peterborough chief Barry Fry confirms League One side rejected swap deal for Leeds United midfielder Alfie McCalmont

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Peterborough United’s Director of Football Barry Fry has told Peterborough Today that his side have straight rejected the chance to sign Leeds United midfielder Alfie McCalmont in a potential summer swap deal.

The Weston Homes Stadium outfit are striving to improve head coach Darren Ferguson’s ranks in the off-season, after clinching promotion to the Championship as runners-up to Hull City for the League One title.

McCalmont is thought to be a player of interest to the Posh after the Leeds product enjoyed a strong season on loan in the fourth-tier with Oldham Athletic, where he played a crucial cog in Harry Kewell and later Keith Curle’s plans.

While Oldham ended the League Two season just nine points clear of the relegation places, McCalmont stood out with eight goals and five assists in 35 appearances, while netting a game-winning brace away to Bradford City in the EFL Trophy in November.

Only five players across the fourth-tier scored more often from central midfield positions than McCalmont this season, despite the 21-year-old Leeds prospect playing 19 of his games from a deep-lying holding position.

McCalmont’s future may not be at Elland Road, though, as Fry has claimed Peterborough were offered the chance to sign the Northern Ireland U21 international in exchange for one of their players, but chose not to name who.

“Leeds offered to swap the player for one of ours and we turned it down flat,” the Posh’s Director of Football said.

TBR’s view: Leeds risk making a mistake

The terms of Leeds’ proposal remain to be seen, but it appears likely that United risk making a mistake if they are offering McCalmont’s services to potential suitors for permanent transfers.

The youngster was a huge success at Oldham during what was only his first spell away from Elland Road, where Marcelo Bielsa handed McCalmont his full senior debut in the 2019/20 EFL Cup after a cameo appearance from the bench in the previous round.

McCalmont stood out with the Latics at Boundary Park to Kewell, as well, with the former Leeds striker telling The Oldham Times after a Man of the Match performance against Salford City:

“I thought Alfie was excellent today, he was my Man of the Match. He was all over the place – fast, furious, getting on the ball, confident on the ball, just perfect for me today. Even in the first half he was getting on the ball, and he was trying to work things. His performance was superb.”

A second loan spell away from Elland Road to a side higher up the English football pyramid could be what McCalmont now needs to impress Bielsa and secure a future at Leeds, as his stock is on the rise and the future appearing bright.