Director confirms bid for Newcastle United and Tottenham transfer target - £10m asking price

Newcastle United have been named as one of four Premier League clubs to be monitoring the progress of England Under-20 defender Ronnie Edwards.

The highly-rated centre-back has become an integral figure at League One club Peterborough United after joining them from non-league side Barnet in the summer of 2020. After breaking into the Posh senior setup, Edwards has gone on to over 80 appearances and his form was rewarded with a maiden call-up into the England Under-19 setup just over a year later.

Edwards made 44 appearances for Peterborough last season and he recently appeared for England in the Under-20s World Cup as the Three Lions youngsters reached the round of 16 before suffering a 2-1 defeat against their Italy counterparts.

Several clubs are believed to have watched Edwards during the tournament, with Newcastle, Bournemouth, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace all said to have monitored the youngster’s performances. The latter of that quartet are believed to have been unsuccessful with a £7.5million bid last summer and Peterborough are said to want a figure near £10million before they will consider allowing their prize asset to depart.

Posh director of football Barry Fry admitted that a number of offers have been rejected as he tipped the young defender to progress into the Premier League ‘when the time is ready’.

He told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: ”Every club in the country, and worldwide really, will be watching these England games. It puts values on the players’ heads. We’ve had several bids for Ronnie Edwards that we’ve turned down, but he will go eventually because he’s class.

“Benjamin Arthur is the same. He’s three years younger but he’s going to be just as good, if not better. This boy’s a bit taller [than Edwards], he’s very elegant, very cool, calm and collected. They’re both going to be great players and they’re both going to go into a Premier League side when the time is ready, no doubt about that whatsoever.”