Peterborough United have reportedly rejected three separate bids for defender Ronnie Edwards from Premier League side Crystal Palace, according to the Peterborough Telegraph.
Edwards has been in fine form this season and his performances for Posh have obviously not gone unnoticed. The young defender has been ever-present in the back line, starting all 25 League One games this season.
At just 20 years of age, both the composure and consistency that the youngster has shown is far above what is expected from a player of his age. This is however not the first season that Edwards has shown his worth to the club, having been a mainstay in the defence ever since breaking into the starting 11 as a 17-year-old.
Since then, Edwards has made over 100 appearances for Peterborough in both League One and the Championship and has been pivotal to the club’s success so far this season.
Darren Ferguson’s side currently sit in 3rd in the table, just four points behind current leaders Portsmouth. Despite exiting the play-offs in one of the cruelest ways last season, Posh have responded extremely well and look an even better side this year.
However this transfer window could seriously bring a halt to their current progress with plenty of their star players wanted by clubs higher up the football pyramid. Earlier in the week it was announced that defender and club captain, Peter Kioso, had been recalled by parent club Rotherham United, the first of what could be many major losses in the transfer window for the club.
Edwards could be the next on the list but it has today been confirmed by Peterborough’s Director of Football, Barry Fry, that the club have rejected three bids for the defender. It is believed that the bids by Palace are not near to Posh’s asking price, yet with plenty of time left in the window, there will no doubt be more bids coming from the Eagles as well as potentially other Premier League clubs.
Currently captaining the England under-20s, Edwards has shown his potential both for his club as well as his country and is held in an extremely high regard. A move to the Premier League is no doubt a step-up, but one in which the youngster may take in his stride.
Peterborough will want to keep hold of one of the best defenders in the league but will almost certainly sell this window if the right offer comes in. It is not understood what Fry values Edwards at however Transfermarkt currently have the defender valued at roughly €3.2 million.
That sum does seem as somewhat of an undervaluation given his importance to the club as well as his potential, so if Edwards was to leave London Road this window it could well be for more.
Writer’s View
Although it may not necessarily be good news for Peterborough fans that their star players may be on the way out in January, it seems as if Edwards is valued highly enough to only leave if the perfect offer comes in.
If he is to go in January, Peterborough will no doubt get plenty of money to build for the future but it could disrupt their current momentum in the league and they could be destined for another season in the third tier. Nothing is finalised yet, and for now, Edwards is still most importantly a Peterborough player.
