Southampton have opened talks with Peterborough United to sign Ronnie Edwards, sources have told Football Insider.
The Championship’s top clubs have surged ahead in the competition to secure the highly sought-after 21-year-old defender.
Although Spurs continue to hold Edwards in high esteem and have closely monitored his progress, they have opted not to pursue further interest at this juncture.
Edwards notably represented England at the U20 World Cup in 2023 and has amassed over 100 appearances for Peterborough’s first team, including 34 outings in the Championship during his teenage years.
In recognition of his talent, Edwards was named League One Young Player of the Season for the 2023-24 season and also claimed silverware with the EFL Trophy.
Southampton are leading the race to sign Ronnie Edwards. With Peterborough falling short in League One and Southampton securing promotion back to the Premier League, Russell Martin’s side is expected to have the financial means to secure Edwards from London Road.
Edwards would bolster an already competitive group of central defenders at Southampton. The Saints recently made Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ loan deal permanent from Manchester City in a £20 million deal following their promotion.
As a right-footed centre-back, manager Russell Martin and his staff believe they can nurture Edwards into a seasoned Premier League player.
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The club is actively seeking recruits to bolster the defense in preparation for a challenging Premier League campaign. According to Football Insider (17 June), Southampton has identified Tottenham’s Joe Rodon as a target and will vie with Ipswich, Leicester, and Leeds for his signing.
Peterborough has a history of earning substantial fees for a stream of players who later transitioned to Premier League football. They will aim to secure a lucrative sum for their England youth international, Ronnie Edwards.