Aston Villa have reportedly joined by Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in the race to sign Peterborough starlet Ronnie Edwards.
A recent report from The Sun has offered an update on the future of Ronnie Edwards. The 19-year-old Peterborough United defensive sensation is seemingly becoming one of the most in-demand youngsters in the English lower leagues following his breakthrough this term.
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are among the clubs interested in securing the services of Edwards. But the Premier League giants could face stiff competition from an Aston Villa side fresh from the capture of Philippe Coutinho, Boubacar Kamara and most recently, Diego Carlos.
A centre-back by trade, Edwards made 34 league appearances this past season. Despite standing at 1.80m, the youngster has impressed the onlookers with his ability in the air and in ground duels. The English prospect has also made an impression with his dogged defensive mentality and athleticism.
The 19-year-old has thus emerged as an ever-present figure in the Peterborough backline, even though his contributions in between the sticks were not enough to help the Posh survive the wrath of relegation.
Peterborough’s relegation serves as an excellent opportunity for Aston Villa to snap up the teenage sensation who could prove to be an ideal understudy for new signing Carlos. He can also compete with Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa for a place in the starting eleven next season.
Manchester United, meanwhile, are hoping to strengthen their defensive base amid the uncertainties surrounding the futures of Eric Bailly, Phil Jones and even Harry Maguire. Bailly has already become a subject of interest from Ligue 1 outfit Lyon, and a move away from Manchester United could be on the horizon in the coming summer.
However, one club who have shown a particular interest in Ronnie Edwards are Tottenham. The Lilywhites have been scouting the youngster for quite some time now and are targeting him as an ideal replacement for Joe Rodon, who is likely to be offloaded in the summer.
The report suggests Peterborough want record fees for Edwards. They are also looking for a deal which would ensure the 19-year-old remains at the club for another year on a loan deal. But having been relegated to League One, it would be difficult for the Posh to attract such an agreement.
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Aside from Aston Villa, Manchester United and Tottenham, Bundesliga giants including Borussia Dortmund are keeping close tabs on Edwards. The youngster is likely to cost around £15-20 million this summer, which is barely a pocket pinch for the majority of clubs across Europe.
