Transfer News: Chelsea are interested in League One defender Ronnie Edwards
According to Football. London, Chelsea are considering a move for Peterborough United centre-back Ronnie Edwards. But he will not come easy as the Blues are expected to face competition from a number of other Premier League sides.
New owners have spent heavily in the youth academy this summer. The club has been able to recruit top talents from all across the country as Chelsea looks to build a team for the present and the future. And now they have identified another potential target.
The England Under-19 international caught the eye for his performances for Peterborough in the Championship last season. The centre-back was a light in an otherwise dark campaign for Peterborough that saw them get relegated to League One.
Edwards was also part of the England Under-19 squad that won the European Under-19 Championship in July, earlier this year. The defender played in four of the five games for the young Lions as they beat Israel 3-1 in the finals.
The 19-year-old’s performances earned him interest from not only Chelsea but also Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa and some other clubs. Peterborough’s director of football Barry Fry had this to say to the Peterborough Telegraph regarding the centre-back.
“I’ve had conversations with people at Chelsea who are in the know and who would be involved in any decision-making. They haven’t made a bid yet, but there are three weeks until the transfer window closes. They certainly like him.”
Should Edward make a move to west London, he will join the likes of Zak Sturge, Gabriel Slonina and Carney Chukwuemeka in the youth academy of the Blues. A tall and dominating figure at the back, Edwards has all the qualities to become one the best in the League and maybe the world.
Thomas Tuchel has been fixing his backline this summer. Adding a young and talented defender to the youth academy would make sense. Should Tuchel face an emergency or is impressed by Edwards’ performance, he could call up the player to the senior squad.
More Chelsea News:
- Napoli eye Keylor Navas as an alternative to Chelsea star Kepa Arrizabalaga
- Chelsea centre-back Malang Sarr completes part AS Monaco medical
- Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has rejected clubs but would say yes to Chelsea
But Chelsea face competition from top rivals for his signature. The Blues will have to act fast and smart if they want to land the player. It could prove to be disadvantageous if a talent like Edwards joins a rival’s academy.
