Peterborough United director of football Barry Fry has told the Peterborough Telegraph that the club aren't interested in Portsmouth pair Craig MacGillivray and John Marquis, whilst he also claimed that Pompey had not asked about the availability of Dan Butler.
Recent reports had linked the newly promoted Sky Bet League One side with a double move for Marquis and MacGillivray, with the latter in particular seemingly set to be the subject of plenty of speculation over the coming weeks after it was revealed that he would not be offered a new deal by Pompey.
Whilst the News also recently stated that Danny Cowley's men were keen on bringing back Dan Butler to the South Coast as they eye new recruits as part of their mass summer rebuild at Fratton Park after missing out on a play-off place.
However this trio of rumours has been dispelled by Fry in one quick swipe as he stated the following about the links:
"Neither of those players are on the list of targets given to me.
"And Pompey haven’t contacted me about Dan Butler either. Dan wouldn’t leave anyway. We’ve verbally agreed a new contract and he’s coming to see me before the end of the week."
Butler has been a regular for the Posh this term and already has an existing deal with the club which expires in the summer of 2022.
Whilst Marquis is also under contract at Pompey, with MacGillivray appearing almost certain to leave after holding talks.
The Verdict
It has been a strange couple of weeks for Pompey, with the main talking point coming after it was seemingly revealed that MacGillivray would be departing for pastures new in what was a huge shock to many.
The Scot has been brilliant during his time at Fratton Park and I do feel that they would be making a huge mistake if they let him leave.
As for Marquis, he cut a frustrated figure at times during the campaign and received a lot of criticism for some of his performances.
It appears that all three players that were mentioned by Fry won't be making any particular moves between the South Coast and Cambridgeshire this summer, however question marks do seemingly remain over the futures of Marquis and MacGillivray in particular as speculation continues.