Darragh MacAnthony admits he would ‘love’ to see Liverpool offer Ronnie Edwards a chance in the Premier League with the Peterborough United youngster attracting interest from higher up the footballing pyramid.
The sight of Ivan Toney trotting onto the Wembley pitch, earning his England debut during the Euro 2024 qualifying victory over Ukraine, was a source of considerable pride at London Road.
Just two years ago, the Brentford talisman was leading the line for Peterborough in England’s third tier. His remarkable rise, then, is an inspiration for each and every lower league player with lofty ambitions.
And who is to say Edwards, one of the EFL’s finest young centre-halves, cannot follow in Toney’s footsteps?
The Harlow-born 20-year-old, who represents the Three Lions at youth level, could be joining his former Peterborough team-mate in the top flight sooner rather than later; Posh confirming interest from the likes of Newcastle United and Manchester City.
Will Liverpool make a move for Ronnie Edwards?
“If you look at the (England U20) squad, 90 per cent of the squad is top-five Prem. Then you see that one Peterborough United player. There’s a bit of pride in there that he’d playing at that level,” chairman MacAnthony tells the Hard Truth Podcast.
“I’m proud of him. He’s going to have a magnificent career. I’d love my club in the Prem to buy him. Like Ivan (Toney), it’s going to be great watching that kid do what he’s going to do in the game.”
MacAnthony, a boyhood Liverpool fan, reportedly values Edwards at around £15 million. Crystal Palace had a bid of £7.5 million rejected during the summer of 2022.
A left-footed, homegrown central defender, Edwards is likely to incur plenty more Premier League offers as the transfer window looms into view. Liverpool, interestingly, are one of a number of top-flight clubs reportedly in the market for a left-sided centre-half. Edwards would come a lot cheaper than the likes of Goncalo Inacio and Josko Gvardiol.
“(Manchester) City did make a phone call about him. But it was just a conversation,” Peterborough director Barry Fry said of Edwards a few months ago.
“There has been interest all summer long in Ronnie. But he would rather play in League One than in City’s, or any other club’s, under 21 side. There is no doubt he will get to the Premier League one day and earn life-changing money. But he’s a very sensible young man and knows time is on his side.
“I suppose an ideal scenario would be a club paying proper money for him and then loaning him back to us for a season.”
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