Aston Villa are eyeing up a swoop for Peterborough United defender Ronnie Edwards this summer as Steven Gerrard looks to build his own team in the Midlands.
What’s the word?
The Birmingham Mail have reported that the teenager has been linked with a host of Premier League clubs, with Villa amongst them.
The report added that an unnamed top-flight side have had a £2m bid rejected for the player, as Peterborough’s director of football Barry Fry appears to be demanding a club record fee of £15m in order for them to sell the 19-year-old.
Forget Tarkowski
Gerrard has already made a few signings ahead of next season, capturing Philippe Coutinho, Diego Carlos and Boubacar Kamara as the spine of his new-look team begins to take shape.
Another defender would be a welcome addition to the squad, with James Tarkowski being heavily linked with the Villans, although the manager could well go for youth and potential over signing the more experienced Burnley defender.
Edwards has already made his England under-19s debut against France last year and seems set to leave relegated Peterborough this summer.
His former manager Darren Ferguson lavished him with praise in the past, stating that the 19-year-old is an “incredible talent”; and with clubs such as Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham Hotspur sniffing around the youngster, Gerrard might need to act quickly.
Edwards has a slightly better temperament compared to Tarkowski, receiving only six bookings last season compared to 11 for the Burnley defender. The 19-year-old also committed just 14 fouls in 34 matches, an impressive number when you compare it to the 34 fouls for which the Clarets centre-back was culpable.
Edwards might still be slightly raw, but a move to a club like Aston Villa could prove to be the catalyst that he needs to kick on and reach his potential.
An outlay of £15m might seem a lot to Gerrard for a 19-year-old centre-back in the here-and-now, but he could well make Villa a fortune further down the line if they can persuade Peterborough to sell this summer.