"I'm gutted" - QPR told to launch new Southampton transfer offer for "unbelievable" star | OneFootball

Queens Park Rangers couldn't get a return for defender Ronnie Edwards over the line, and FLW's resident Rangers fan pundit is bitterly disappointed.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Queens Park Rangers are being urged to try again in January to bring defender Ronnie Edwards back to Loftus Road, after their attempts to sign him from Southampton fell flat.

Under new management in the form of Julien Stephan, Queens Park Rangers had a busy summer transfer window, with ten new players arriving at Loftus Road. But while the new additions will be most welcome to Rangers fans, one attempt to re-sign a player who had impressed on loan throughout the second half of last season fell flat.

Ronnie Edwards spent the second half of the 2024-25 season on loan with Queens Park Rangers and was deeply impressive. There were reports that Rangers were trying to secure his signature on deadline day, but this move didn't come to pass, and now Edwards will be staying at St Mary's until January at the earliest.

"We've got to try again in January" - QPR urged not to give up on Ronnie Edwards

Football League World have spoken to QPR fan pundit Louis Moir about this attempt to bring Edwards back, and it's fair to say that he's disappointed: "I'm gutted that it didn't happen. There was so much talk that it was going to happen; it was going to happen, it wasn't going to happen, then it was back on, and then nothing materialised, but it does sound like it was Southampton who weren't budging on what we were offering.

"When there are such strong rumours about a player like that returning, it gets your hopes up. I still would have been shocked if we'd got it over the line, fingers crossed we can go back for him in January, whether that's a loan or try and negotiate some sort of permanent deal."

The reason for Louis's disappointment is obvious; he considers Edwards to be an outstanding young player: "But he is unbelievable. Last season what a difference he made to us, not just defensively but as a whole team because the way he is on the ball, attacks started from him at the back, playing through the middle, he was such aerial threat and so good on the ball. I honestly think he'll play for England one day. He's such a talent."

For Louis, the matter is all the more disappointing because he believes that Edwards wanted to return to Loftus Road: "Rumours were that he wanted to come back, and a player of his quality wanting to come back to us shows the direction we're moving in now. I'm just gutted it didn't happen. We've got to try again in January. We have to. It's just whether there could be a turnaround in his time at Southampton, you never know. He's not necessarily the first, second or third choice centre-back there, but things could happen there before January. He could get involved, and play, and do well, and then things change, don't they?"

But Louis was very clear that he wants Rangers to go back in for Edwards at the earliest available opportunity: "So we're going to have to see how he does, but what a player he is, and he's still so young. I'm just praying that if it isn't January then hopefully next season or something. He needs to become a QPR player again, because honestly, him at the back, he's a joke of a defender. He's such a good footballer and it was brilliant watching him last season."

Ronnie Edwards seems to fit into Southampton's plans more this season

It only took Ronnie Edwards half a season to impress QPR fans as much as he did. Southampton signed him from Peterborough United in the summer 2024 transfer window, but he wasn't really able to break into the Saints first-team, making two appearances before being loaned out to QPR in January 2025.

Over the second half of last season, Edwards made 21 appearances in a Rangers shirt, scoring twice. He also made his England Under-21 debut while he was at Loftus Road, and was on the bench when England won the Under-21 Euros in the summer.

Southampton seem to have seen his value. Edwards has made two Championship appearances for them so far this season and appeared in both their EFL Cup matches, so it seems that the Saints head coach Will Stil has plans for him. This may make it more difficult for QPR to make another attempt to bring him in during the next transfer window, but as our fan pundit points out, they have to try.