Peterborough United are set to endure a significant impending transfer blow, with Southampton closing in on the signing of prized asset Ronnie Edwards.
This is according to BBC Sport’s Nick Mashiter, who has revealed that Southampton are close to finalising a transfer for the Posh starlet.
Edwards was the subject of strong interest from Crystal Palace in January with several bids placed from the Premier League side, however no deal materialised.
Southampton have been active in the market after returning to the Premier League through the play-offs in May, with Mashiter’s report also making reference to their separate bid of ex-Norwich City full-back Max Aarons and the imminent arrival of Nathan Wood from Swansea City.
As per the Daily Echo’s Southampton correspondent Alfie House, Peterborough are set to receive an initial £3m for the central defender.
Though separate clauses remain undisclosed at this moment in time, it’s likely that Peterborough could be in line to net further financial sweeteners further down the line such as performance and achievement-related bonuses and a slice of any potential sell-on fee/profit, all of which are commonplace in similar deals for young talent.
However, acquiring one of the most impressive young defenders across the EFL for as little as £3m is an absolute snip for Southampton, who have also laid bare a clear statement of intent by swooping for Edwards under the noses of some of their Premier League rivals.
It’s easy to understand why Martin has negotiated a deal for Edwards too, who is a left-footed ball-playing defender and aligns with the Saints boss’ principles of patient build-up play out from the defence.
| Ronnie Edwards’ appearances by season for Peterborough United across all comps, as per FotMob | |
| Season | Appearances |
| 2020/21 | 6 |
| 2021/22 | 38 |
| 2022/23 | 44 |
| 2023/24 | 55 |
It’s fair to say that there have been better days to be a Posh supporter, with a previous update from the Guardian’s Will Unwin informing of Sheffield United’s advanced interest in a double-capture of Harrison Burrows and Ricky Jade-Jones
Unwin’s claim of the deal potentially being close to completion is the real concern, though.
22-year-old skipper and academy product Burrows has been on the Blades’ transfer radar in recent weeks and supplied 12 goals and 17 assists for the side across all competitions last term, while Jade-Jones’ own 10-goal haul vindicated the long-standing promise around his name.
The Posh pair are both reportedly linked with a summer move to Bramall Lane
Already a damaging double-whammy, the latest Edwards revelation is really rubbing salt in the wounds of Peterborough supporters, who will now be hoping that vocal owner Darragh MacAnthony can work his magic in the transfer market this summer.
Under MacAnthony, Peterborough have placed significant trust in their academy products and towards unearthing unknown quantities for a low fee in the market, before developing them efficiently enough to eventually harvest a commendable profit.
It’s a sustainable business model in many regards, and Posh need it to come up trumps yet again if they are to successfully bounce back from last season’s play-off semi-final defeat to eventual victors Oxford United and achieve promotion to the Championship.
