Peterborough United submit offer for 23-goal player amid Ipswich Town

According to rumors, Peterborough United’s early approach for Altrincham’s goal-scoring sensation Chris Conn-Clarke was denied.

According to the Daily Mail, Darren Ferguson’s side failed in their early attempts to sign the non-league forward, who scored 23 goals in the National League last season.

Conn-Clarke, a former Fleetwood Town player, has raised heads in the EFL this season with his remarkable performances in the fifth tier, with Ipswich Town and Portsmouth both reportedly interested in signing him over the summer.

With Alty falling out on the playoffs to eventual champions Bromley, a transfer to the Football League appears to be the next logical step for the talented attacker, who just joined Phil Parkinson’s team last summer.

Chris Conn-Clarke form for Altrincham has seen Peterborough make offer

Conn-Clarke dominated the National League last season, with the 22-year-old joining the non-league team in a club record deal.

The forward played only four games for the Cod Army before moving to the J Davidson Stadium, having already spent time in Manchester over the previous two seasons.

Since making the transfer permanent last summer, he has had a standout season, with 35 goals, the most in the division, and the most dribbles (299) of any player at that level.

I’ll do a thread at some point, but Chris Conn-Clarke’s stats are just incredible

🙌 22 years old
☑️ 43 games
⚽️ 23 goals
🅰️ 11 assists
🥇 Goal Contributions (34)
🥇 Smart Passes (39)
🥇 Deep Completions (77)
🥇 Shots (169)
🥇 Dribbles (291)
🥈 Key Passes (31) pic.twitter.com/YA6bTTnQ9G

— tomhwilliams23 (@tomhwilliams23) April 4, 2024

It’s no surprise that a number of EFL clubs have expressed an interest in the rising young talent, whose ability to beat a man and reach the back of the net on a regular basis will appeal to clubs higher up the football pyramid.

Alty face another season at the top level of non-league football after losing 3-1 to Bromley in the National League playoff semi-finals, but boss Parkinson has all but admitted that maintaining hold of his prized property will be impossible.

He said: “I would love to reassure everyone that Chris will still be with us next season but, in all honesty, I can’t.

“When a player does what he has done, in terms of goals and assists, the bigger clubs are going to come calling, and it’s very difficult to stop that natural next step happening.

“If he is still with us at the start of next season, I will have the biggest smile on my face you have ever seen. If not, I won’t exactly be amazed.”

Peterborough United have a fantastic record of polishing non-league gems

If any club was going to hunt non-league for the best talent, it would be Peterborough United, since the Posh are one of the best at signing players from outside the top four categories of English football.

Dwight Gayle, Aaron McLean, and Craig Mackail-Smith have all found London Road to be the place to make their reputation after succeeding on the semi-pro circuit, and Ferguson believes Conn-Clarke will be the next to join them.

This summer, United will hunt for a player to replace another non-league graduate, Ephron Mason-Clark, who joined Coventry City in the January transfer window for a fee believed to be in excess of £5 million.

Mason-Clark joined the club from Barnet in the summer of 2022, following the well-trodden path from The Hive to London Road, which Ronnie Edwards and Jack Taylor have previously taken.

Ferguson and manager Darragh MacAnthony have taken satisfaction in bringing the greatest non-league players into the EFL in recent years, and they will be looking to do the same with Conn-Clarke in the next season.