Crystal Palace have seen a £4 million bid rejected by Peterborough for Ronnie Edwards, as they reportedly are holding out for a higher fee.
According to Football Insider, Peterborough United have rejected a £4 million bid from Crystal Palace for Ronnie Edwards as the League One side are holding out for a bigger fee. The young defender is a player in demand heading into the summer and the Eagles could return with an improved offer.
Premier League sides are looking at young stars from lower tiers to bolster their squads with Brexit rules coming into force. One such prospect is Ronnie Edwards, with the 19-year-old Peterborough starlet primed for a big career in the top flight.
Crystal Palace are interested in signing Edwards in the summer. The London side have developed a reputation for nurturing top young talents into key stars. Since Patrick Vieira’s arrival, the Eagles have changed their transfer strategy and have seen instant success in the Frenchman’s first season.
Talents like Marc Guehi, Michael Olise, and Eberechi Eze flourished under the Frenchman last term, which could attract talents like Edwards into signing for the club. However, the 19-year-old is already proving to be a tricky target to land, as Peterborough are unwilling to let him leave on the cheap.
Crystal Palace have been interested in Edwards for some time now and have taken the next step in their pursuit of the England Under-19 international. The Eagles reportedly made a bid worth £4 million, which was rejected by Peterborough, who might be seeking more money.
Edwards is a prized asset for the League One side, and the recently relegated team will look for a substantial fee in the market. According to the report, Peterborough could value Edwards at around £10-20 million, considerably more than the £4 million offer tabled by Palace.
After being impressed with his performances in the Championship, Manchester United and Aston Villa were also interested in the defender. Edwards made 34 appearances for the club and cemented a place in the team. However, while those suitors hold a big name and reputation, the young centre-back will decide his future based on his prospects.
Whether Palace come back with an improved offer remains the question, although it is clear that Vieira is keen on adding the defender to his squad. As for Peterborough, they will be bracing for offers that would allow them to make a huge profit on the player they acquired for a relatively small fee.