West Ham United chase Ronnie Edwards deal ahead of Rangers and Crystal Palace as Peterborough United chief reveals bids incoming
West Ham are after Peterborough United defender this summer and club scouts watched him in action against Barnsley last week, according to Mail Plus.
Mail journalist Simon Jones reported in his Transfer Confidential for the newspaper’s website on 21 August that the Hammers were in attendance for the 3-1 win last Tuesday (15 August) to watch the “technically gifted” centre-back, amid questions over his six-foot height being suitable for the Premier League.
Edwards, 20, is said to have “impressed” for England under-20s at the World Cup in Argentina, and the Hammers face competition from the likes of Rangers, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace who have all “watched him closely”.
The Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony has already revealed he “knows” bids from three Premier League clubs will come in before the transfer deadline, calling it a “joke” that Edwards is still at the club, but the top flight outfits are waiting to sign other players first so as not to be seen to prioritise a youngster from League One.
All signs point towards offer
If MacAnthony is that certain that bids are on the way then it would certainly tie up that the Hammers might be one if they went to watch him again last week.
Konstantinos Mavropanos is set to become the third incoming deal of the transfer window after completing a medical over the weekend [Evening Standard, 21 August], with the Greek international turned to after the Harry Maguire pursuit fell through.
Nayef Aguerd has been linked to a surprise return to Rennes in the wake of the Irons attempting to sign the ex-Manchester United captain, so if West Ham are still in the market for another central defender then perhaps there is more to happen with the Moroccan’s future that it might appear.
Davis Moyes wanted cover for injuries at the position, but there have been some suggestions that he might be looking to move to three centre-backs, so there would appear to be plenty of opportunities.
Kurt Zouma and Aguerd starting the 3-1 win over Chelsea on Sunday, but the Moroccan was sent off and Angelo Ogbonna came on.
Thilo Kehrer is also present as back-up, but were there to be one of the customary injury crises at the position, or a shock late departure there would be space for Edwards, who is clearly attracting a lot of interest in the top flight.
In other West Ham news, another man who has started for the Irons this season is being lined up for an exit, with a cut-price fee on the cards.