Man United icon Sir Alex Ferguson makes exciting transfer recommendation to John Murtough

Manchester United have joined the chase for Peterborough wonderkid Ronnie Edwards after legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson told football director John Murtough to sign him.

The teenager is being by watched by a host of Premier League clubs with Tottenham and Brentford believed to be keen – but Posh owner Barry Fry has warned the Championship side are not ready to sell him just yet.

Edwards has caught the eye of Ferguson while playing for Peterborough, who are managed by the United icon’s son Darren.

The 18-year-old broke into the first team at Posh towards the end of last season and has played the full 90 minutes in their last three Championship games.

Former United boss Ferguson has been impressed by Edwards after seeing him in action several times, according to the Daily Star.

The Red Devils are now among several top-flight clubs keeping tabs on the youngster – and are hoping the family connection between Ferguson and his son can give them an advantage over their rivals.

Peterborough signed Edwards from Barnet’s under-18s last year after Fry recommended him to the younger Ferguson.

Fry said Spurs and Brentford were also interested in the defender at the time Peterborough signed him – and believes his club could eventually sell him for £20million.

“Ronnie is a Rolls Royce,” Fry told the Peterborough Telegraph. “We knew that when we signed him.

“I used to watch a lot of under 18s football at Barnet as well as Posh and I told the gaffer about him. And when we brought him in for a game Darren watched him for 20 minutes and told me to sign him.

“Spurs were watching him at the time and Brentford were very keen on him. In fact Brentford were so upset when we did the deal they complained to the FA!”

Fry said scouts from almost all the top-flighy clubs watched Edwards in a recent game.

“It’s no secret how highly Ronnie is rated by other clubs and by the England set up,” he said. “We had 18 Premier League scouts watching him play for the under 23s at our stadium.

“Ronnie is money in the bank for the club. He’s a certainty to have an outstanding career in the game, but there’s no better place, and no better manager than Darren Ferguson, to help him develop quickly.”

Fry added: “We want to thrive and prosper in the Championship so selling our better players is not an option.

“A couple of good seasons in the Championship would make him worth £10million to £20million.

“There will become a time when we can’t stand in his way as he’d make life-changing money like Ivan Toney as a Premier League player.”