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Peterborough have signed Crawley striker Tyrone Barnett on loan until the end of the season with a view to a permanent club record move.

The 26-year-old is expected to agree a four-year deal for a fee in excess of £1m at the end of the current campaign.

He arrived at Crawley from Macclesfield in the summer and has gone on to score 15 times in 33 games this season.

"I am very pleased to be a Peterborough United player. I am chuffed to bits," Barnett told

"I have always followed Peterborough, a few mates have come down here to play and love it here and I cannot wait to get started.

"I think Peterborough had a bid rejected in the transfer window, but I didn't let that affect me, I just concentrated on the football."

Barnett started his career at West Brom, where he failed to make a senior appearance before heading to Macclesfield in 2010.

He scored 13 times in 45 league games while at The Moss Rose and Red Imps boss Steve Evans moved for the striker ahead of their debut season in the Football League.

Crawley chief executive Alan Williams said: "Our manager is extremely disappointed that Tyrone is leaving but the offer from Peterborough not only met but exceeded our board of directors' valuation.

"We must never forget we are first and foremost a business and this is a great deal for us."

Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony added: "We have stolen a march on at least six of our Championship rivals.

"I can understand why Steve Evans is so devastated to lose a key player at such an important stage of the season."

Crawley had brought in a ready made replacement earlier in the day by signing Millwall striker Shaun Batt, himself a former Posh player, on loan.