Peterborough director of football Barry Fry has urged Celtic to stop 'piddling about' over Ivan Toney - because the striker will earn them £50million down the line if they splash the cash now.

We exclusively told this week how the Hoops had lodged a bid for the hitman which could rise to more than £6million with add-ons. But Fry and chairman Darragh MacAnthony are hoping the Glasgow outfit 'get serious' with an offer that is closer to their valuation of 24-goal Toney.

It is understood Celtic would be Toney's preferred destination due to his already established relationship with first-team coach Gavin Strachan. Brentford are also believed to be interested and have tabled an offer of around £9million for the attacker. And Fry has warned Celtic not to think they can get the player on the cheap. 

"They mentioned they may be selling one or two," Fry said. "I think they’re trying it on to try to get Toney cheap. I’ve had experience with Celtic, so I know the score. I know the manager wants a tenth title and he’s identified our bloke as the best.

“Gavin Strachan’s gone there and he’s backed up the opinion of Toney. They’ve told Peter Lawwell and Nicky Hammond to go and get him, but they won’t get Toney with what they’re piddling about with, that’s for sure. Toney would be a revelation for Celtic, he’d be a star, for definite."

Goals win games and good strikers are hard to come by, according to Fry. Which is why he believes Toney would be worth tens of millions in future if he does what he does best in Scotland's Premiership. "He’d score 30 to 40 goals up there, he really would," Fry told the Scottish Sun. 

"Not only is he brilliant in the box, scoring and creating with his right foot, left foot and head, at six foot four he’s also our best defender. Celtic will get £40-50m for him.”