Tottenham Hotspur face fresh competition from London rivals Crystal Palace in the race to sign Ronnie Edwards.
According to Daily Mail, Crystal Palace have launched an operation to sign Ronnie Edwards in the upcoming summer transfer window. The Eagles are keen on shoring up their defensive options ahead of the new season, with the Peterborough United centre-back emerging as the ideal option due to his skill and potential.
Tottenham Hotspur have been the club primarily linked with a move for Edwards. But Palace are hopeful they can provide a strong fight in the race to sign the young defender, who has been one of the rising stars in the Championship this term.
Palace have received rave reviews this season for nurturing young talents. From Joachim Andersen, Marc Guehi and Tyrick Mitchell in defence, to Conor Gallagher, Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze in midfield and attack, Patrick Vieira has been able to assemble a talented first-team revolving around young players.
However, Palace want to safeguard their senior side, especially if one of the first-team stars leaves the club in the upcoming summer. Olise, for one, has been strongly linked with a move to a bigger side, amid interest from Arsenal and Chelsea.
One would argue Joachim Andersen could be another potential candidate in the defensive unit, given the way the Dane has performed this term. And Palace are prepared to make a move for Edwards to shore up their defensive roster.
Despite standing at only 1.80m, the young centre-back has made a solid impression in the Championship this season with his dogged defensive philosophy, coupled with his pace, athleticism and even technical prowess. Having already featured in 30 league appearances this term, the defender has also shown a lot of maturity, making him one of the most sought-after young defenders in the country.
The Eagles, though, are set to face strong competition from Tottenham in the pursuit of Ronnie Edwards. Although the Lilywhites are primarily targeting an experienced left-footed centre-back this summer, the addition of a homegrown talent such as Edwards could help Antonio Conte add further strength in depth to his defensive unit.
The 19-year-old may even emerge as an ideal replacement for Joe Rodon, who is keen on leaving Spurs at the end of the season. Not to mention, Edwards is unlikely to cost a fortune with Peterborough reportedly valuing him at around £15 million, potentially making him a bargain for any of these two London clubs this summer.
