The football club have rejected a bid for 17-year-old striker Jaanai Gordon from West Ham United.
Peterborough United have turned down a bid for talented teenage striker, 17-year-old Jaanai Gordon, from Premier League side West Ham United.
Gordon has spent three weeks training with the Hammers, starring in several fixtures, scoring twice for the under 18s against Aston Villa and then repeating the feat in an under 21 fixture against Gillingham, despite only being on the pitch for 20 minutes.
He was given an opportunity in a first team friendly fixture at Upton Park with Milllwall last Friday, producing a fine display, scoring the equaliser in a 2-2 draw. He came close to scoring the winner in a very good display with the coaching staff at Upton Park impressed with his performances. West Ham requested that Gordon could remain for a third week so first team manager Sam Allardyce could see him in action.
However, Allardyce was not at the club for the first part of the week, and witnessed the teenager in action on Thursday. West Ham made a bid on Friday morning, which was rejected by Posh.
Posh Director of Football Barry Fry said: ‘Jaanai has been excellent for the Hammers in the last two weeks, both in training sessions and in friendly fixtures and the staff at West Ham believe he has enormous potential. Sam Allardyce has been away on holiday in Dubai and returned to training on Thursday where he discussed the situation with his staff and then the joint-owner David Sullivan. A bid was then made on Friday morning, but we have rejected that offer.’
Gordon will return to London Road and will be available for the FA Youth Cup second round tie at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday 3rd December. The teenager made his first team debut for Posh at the age of 16 in the Championship and also started the cup-tie with Premier League side Norwich City last term.
He has been on standby for the England under 19s and has been a regular scorer for both the under 18s side and the development squad. He scored nine goals in eight appearances for the under 21s prior to the five goals in three games for West Ham United.