After an impressive loan spell with QPR during the second half of last season, many expected Southampton man Ronnie Edwards to really kick on this season. Unfortunately, this hasn’t come to fruition.
Edwards started Will Still’s final eight games in charge of Southampton. But in the six games since, the twenty-two-year-old has only been afforded seven minutes of Championship football.
Given how poor the Saints were under Still and how much better they’ve looked under Tonda Eckert, it’s difficult to see Edwards regaining his starting place anytime soon. So, with the January transfer window approaching, where could he be moving to?
The obvious choice is a return to QPR. This of course depends on Julien Stephan rating him as highly as Marti Cifuentes did.
QPR’s centre back depth is strong, however Jimmy Dunne and Amadou Salif Mbengue are often utilised at right back. Add in the injury records of Steve Cook and Jake Clarke-Salter, Edwards could slot right back in at Loftus Road.
Speaking of Cifuentes, the Spaniard could be keen to bring him in on loan once again. Jannik Vestergaard has been ever present at the back for the Foxes this season.
The Dane has mostly commonly been paired up with Wout Faes. Memeh Caleb Okoli and more recently Ben Nelson have partnered Vestergaard, but I think Edwards could find his way into the starting eleven.
Okoli and Harry Souttar are both currently out with injuries, only adding to the appeal of bringing Edwards in.
After a rough start, it looked as though Derby had turned their season around. But three losses in their last four games has derailed their momentum.
Another side who favour a back three, Derby do have a decent number of centre halves. Their preferred three at the moment are Matthew Clarke, Dion Sanderson and Sondre Klingen Langas.
But that’s not where the issue lies. The issue lies on the bench.
Derby’s other centre backs are Danny Batth, Curtis Nelson and Craig Forsyth. Batth is 35 and has only started one game since August.
Nelson has only made the bench twice, playing a solitary minute and has recently been linked with a move away from the club. Finally, Forsyth, who is 36, last started a game on the 1st of November.
Edwards could be just the refresh that the Derby backline needs.
