Saints are building their squad for next season and are looking to get the balance right between, seasoned professionals, experienced 25 year olds & promising youngsters, the latest reports suggest that Saints are in pole position for one of League One's most gifted talents.

Getting a balanced squad isn't done by starting at the top and working downwards, it is about identifying targets in all areas, abilities and ages and getting the right balance, in an ideal world you would make your headline signings first, but it doesn't work like that.

So the fact that one of the first signings that Southampton make after the fabled July 1st bonus payment date, could well be Peterborough United's Ronnie Edwards according to footballleagueworld.co.uk.

This is a signing that will make a section of Southampton supporters reach for their keyboards and use this as an example of how the club has not got any ambition, but those fans might well find themselves proved wrong as the season progresses.

Central defender Edwards is one of the highest rated players outside of the Premier League and he is tipped by many to be a big success in the Premier League, certainly Spurs think so and are believed to be considering a move.

But Saints are in the lead for his signature as they are able to offer him a good chance of making the first team this season, rather than stagnate in the B team.

Ronnie Edwards may only be 21, but he has good experience, he played in all but one of the regular season for Peterborough in League one and also both play off games, Peterborough lost out to Oxford in these games and that meant that they were going to struggle to keep hold of Edwards.

In the last three seasons he has played 34 games in the Championship for the Posh, another 87 League One games, plus 4 play off games and another 10 in the cups.

So at 21 he has a lot more experience than many who are several years older, 125 League games including the play offs is good going.

So if this signing is completed then Edwards would be something of a hybrid, still a youngster, but with an experienced head on his shoulders, so although he would not come in as a starter, those that know, think that he could well be sooner than later, yes he is one for the future, but the very near future.

Peterborough would love to keep him, but they know he belongs higher up than they can offer him and with the last year of his contract just about to start, they know they have to sell now.

The word is that if Southampton or indeed any club can match their price, then they won't stand in his way.

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