Newly promoted Southampton have beaten Newcastle to signature of 21-year-old defender

It's another transfer target gone as newly promoted Southampton have beaten Everton and Newcastle United to the £3million signing of highly-rated Peterborough United defender.

It looks as though Newcastle have been beaten to the punch for another English defender this summer after losing out on Tosin Adarabioyo.

Newcastle were recently linked with an interest in the England U20's captain, 21-year-old Ronnie Edwards from Peterborough and were set to go up against Everton in the race for his signature.

However, The Boot Room has now reported that Southampton who at the time of the first reporting were showing the most intent for Edwards, have actually sealed the deal.

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Southampton already had the lead in the race for Ronnie Edwards

The Saints are on a mission this summer having already signed four players as they look to build a squad capable of remaining in the Premier League and now look set to add to it with Ronnie Edwards.

When Newcastle's interest first came to light, Southampton were already at the table with Peterborough. It looks like neither Newcastle nor Everton tried very hard, or at all, to do anything to disrupt that.

It looks like another one of those transfer links that was never really going to go anywhere beyond the pages of where it was being reported.

Newcastle look to be focusing on more experienced defenders

The Magpies are still on the hunt for another centre-back, but it's more likely they will be looking for someone with more experience of top-level football than Edwards.

Italy seems to be where Eddie Howe has his sights at the moment with Riccardo Calafiori and Federico Gatti both linked to the Toon.

Hopefully, we will see some positive movement in the coming days.