Jack Payne: Plymouth Argyle 'in talks to sign Peterborough midfielder'

Jack Payne scored one goal for Leyton Orient in League Two last season

Plymouth Argyle are in talks to sign Peterborough midfielder Jack Payne, according to the League One club's director of football Barry Fry.

The 24-year-old is unlikely to feature this season, according to Fry.

Payne spent much of last term on loan at Argyle's League Two rivals Leyton Orient, playing 32 times.

"He's not agreed personal terms, but it's a great opportunity for Jack to go and play for a big club and put his name out there again," Fry said.

"Grant McCann's made it perfectly clear he will not be playing for us this year with the amount of quality we've got in midfield," he told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

When asked about a possible bid for Payne, Argyle manager Derek Adams said: "I don't know anything about that."

But Fry believes Plymouth would be an ideal destination for the player, who spent five years at Gillingham before moving to London Road in 2013.

"I was at the play-off final at Wembley and Plymouth took about 40,000," added Fry. "It's a massive club, I've talked to Jack, I can't make him go, but I think he's an idiot if he doesn't take the opportunity."

Argyle are looking for midfield cover after Carl McHugh spurned a new contract offer and moved to Scottish Premier League side Motherwell.

McHugh had verbally agreed a new deal with the Pilgrims, but failed to return to the club when pre-season training began.