Stoke City

Stoke City

Championship

Stoke City consider deadline-beating bid for talented defender after successful scouting mission

Gareth McCleary and Ronnie Edwards

Stoke City sent scouts to watch Peterborough defender Ronnie Edwards against Portsmouth on Saturday as they weigh up a move for the highly-rated centre-back before Tuesday’s deadline, TEAMtalk can exclusively reveal.

Stoke are in the market for defensive reinforcements before the transfer window closes with Harry Souttar linked with a move away from the Potters. Leicester City have been credited with an interest in Souttar in recent days, for example, although they will have to work hard to complete a transfer.

If Stoke do end up with a vacancy in their defence, they are considering Edwards as someone who could come in as part of a succession plan.

Edwards, 19, is regarded as one of the best young prospects in the Football League with Crystal Palace having a bid for the central defender rejected last summer.

Peterborough are reluctant to lose Edwards, but Stoke are ready to move for the teenager in case they lose Leicester target Souttar.

Souttar has made seven appearances for Stoke this season after recovering from a cruciate ligament injury, which kept him out of much of last season too.

But he still has admirers in the Premier League, which could leave a void for Stoke to fill.

Ronnie Edwards catching Stoke City attention

Edwards, meanwhile, has 21 appearances in League One to his name this season for Peterborough. Since joining them from Barnet in 2020, he has made 66 appearances in total.

Already with a good amount of experience under his belt for a player of his age, the teenager could earn a step back up to the Championship. He suffered relegation from the second tier last season with his current club.

Peterborough are currently seventh in the League One table. They beat Portsmouth 2-1 when Stoke were watching Edwards, who completed the full 90 minutes of that match.

The England under-20 international is under contract with Peterborough until 2025. However, Stoke could soon give him the next step in his career if they decide to go ahead with a bid.

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