Who is reported Manchester United target Ronnie Edwards?

According to The Mirror (26/9 p74) Manchester United are interested in young defender Ronnie Edwards.

Edwards is said to have been personally recommended by Sir Alex Ferguson, who has seen him in action playing for son Darren Ferguson’s side.

Here is a look at what we know about the potential Red Devils addition…

Peterborough United v West Ham United U21 - EFL Trophy — (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

1) Edwards plays for Championship side Peterborough United and made his debut as a 17-year-old last December.

2) This season, now 18, Edwards has made three Championship starts and has five appearances in total.

3) Peterborough signed Edwards from Barnet in 2020, where he had been at since nine-years-old and went on to captain the under-18s team and then debut for the senior side in 2019.

4) Edwards is a centre-back and earlier this year he was called up into an England under-19s training camp.

5) After signing a three-year deal in 2020, Peterborough extended his contract in 2021 by handing him a four-year contract.

What they say…

Peterborough United director Barry Fry is confident the club have a special talent.

He told Peterborough Today: “Ronnie is a Rolls Royce. We knew that when we signed him

“It’s no secret how highly Ronnie is rated by other clubs and by the England set up. We had 18 Premier League scouts watching him play for the under 23s at our stadium.

“Ronnie is money in the bank for the club. He’s a certainty to have an outstanding career in the game. A couple of good seasons in the Championship would make him worth £10million to £20million.

“He is so calm and composed and his passing is unbelievably accurate.”

Would United make a move?

Peterborough are not in a rush to sell and his contract extension combined with Fry’s comments indicate they will push for a high price when they do.

So United would look to evaluate the young defender closely to work out whether he is worth the investment.

We noted earlier this month that a spot could open up at United if Axel Tuanzebe pursues a permanent exit in the summer.

Eric Bailly is unlikely to want to stay fourth choice for long either, and United will have to decide whether to promote Teden Mengi, or sign another young alternative.

Edwards would fit the bill and would be a player United can develop long-term.

Nothing is likely to happen on this one until next summer at least, although a creative move would perhaps be to lock in a deal which involves a loan back to Peterborough, if United rate him highly enough to want to act with urgency.