West Ham are debating whether to pursue Ronnie Edwards from Peterborough.
West Ham have a long-standing interest in Peterborough defender Ronnie Edwards, but they are unclear whether to launch a January bid for the player.
Who exactly is Ronnie Edwards?
The 20-year-old joined the Posh from Barnet in 2020 and, despite his youth, has already made over 100 appearances for the club, including outings in both the Championship and League One.
Such achievements have drawn attention, as Edwards has represented England at various young levels, and he was previously thought to be on the radar of numerous Premier League clubs.
West Ham is keeping an eye on Ronnie Edwards.
West Ham had long been regarded to be fans of Edwards, and they were extensively connected with him throughout the summer, but no deal was struck.
Since then, there has been speculation that they may reopen the agreement in January, but TEAMtalk reports that the Hammers are reconsidering their position.
“Throughout the calendar year, Ronnie Edwards has been a top target for Newcastle United, who have also been scouting the 20-year-old Peterborough United defender.”
“The Hammers made inroads into a deal to sign him in the summer – when the Posh wanted £10m – but were unable to complete it, and while there is still interest, sources now indicate that there is new uncertainty over whether he fits the model.”
“West Ham are treading carefully over signings and contract extensions at the moment, in line with making sure they map out a clear blueprint for the future.”
Will Peterborough lose Ronnie Edwards?
Whether it’s West Ham or another club, Edwards appears destined to leave Peterborough in one of the next two transfer windows.
The defender is under contract until the summer of 2025, thus Peterborough are approaching the point where they need to cash in on Edwards to get the most out of him, as his value could fall unless a new contract can be agreed upon, which is doubtful.
Edwards has plenty of Football League experience, but he needs to start playing at a higher level if he is to reach his full potential, therefore a transfer might benefit both parties.
From Peterborough’s point of view, they will rightfully want a large fee, and it remains to be seen what kind of proposals they receive during the winter window.
Can Ronnie Edwards succeed in the Premier League?
If West Ham did make a move for Edwards, you’d think he wouldn’t get near the first-team right soon because David Moyes’ squad is loaded with talent.
So there’s a case to be made that Edwards should search for a move to a club that would provide him more game time, since it will be critical for his development.
But, in terms of his potential, there’s little doubt that Edwards can establish a name for himself in the top flight in the coming years; he just needs to make sure he takes the correct steps to get there.
In the short term, though, Edwards will only be concerned with Peterborough and helping the team push for promotion.
