Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony has revealed that he rejected a bid from Fulham for James Dornelly in the winter transfer window.
The Cottagers failed to recruit anyone during the course of the January window, although they did re-sign Willian just a few days after the market closed for business.
Willian returned to Fulham on a free transfer, signing a short-term deal until the end of the season after leaving Olympiacos in December.
While Willian may have added to Fulham's squad depth, Marco Silva would have probably liked one or two more faces through the door to aid the club's bid to secure European qualification.
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Fulham fail with Dornelly bid
It now seems that the Cottagers made an effort to sign a full-back in the winter transfer window because Posh chairman MacAnthony has now revealed that he rejected an undisclosed offer from Fulham for Dornelly.
"No word of a lie Fulham bid for James on the day before deadline day and I turned it down," MacAnthony said on the Hard Truth podcast.
"I'm not trying to sell him. He made one brilliant tackle at the start of the second half last week when it looked odds on they would score.
"He was magnificent in the game. He has improved defensively by watching Carl Johnston and he was great going forward. We have to give these young lads every chance or what is the point in having a Category 2 Academy? We are too quick to write players off sometimes."
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Dornelly rose through the ranks of Peterborough's youth system, before he made his senior debut in an EFL Cup tie against Portsmouth on August 2023.
After finishing last season with eight appearances to his name, Dornelly has gone on to feature in 21 competitive matches during the current campaign, scoring his first senior goal in a 3-3 draw against Rotherham United in October.
The 19-year-old has also been recognised at international youth level, featuring in two games for the England Under-20 side in November.
Dornelly has found playing time harder to come by in recent times following the arrival of Johnston in the winter transfer window.
However, an injury to Johnston presented Dornelly with the chance to come back into the starting lineup for Saturday's 2-1 win over Huddersfield Town.
The youngster is under contract until the summer of 2028, but it remains to be seen whether Fulham will renew their interest in the summer.
