Blackburn Rovers face the difficult task of keeping hold of top goalscorer Sammie Szmodics in the summer, with more and more teams joining the race for the Irishman.
Szmodics made his debut for the Republic of Ireland national team last Saturday during a goalless draw against Belgium at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin which was followed up by another cap in a 1-0 defeat to Switzerland on Tuesday.
While the goalscoring number ’10’ was delighted to appear for the first time ever for his country, he was brought back down to earth after Blackburn lost 1-0 at Ewood Park to Ipswich Town on Friday evening. Szmodics missed a guilt-edged opportunity to level the game late in the second half after nipping the ball back from the opposition goalkeeper, a chance that he could rue by the end of the campaign.
"Szmodics can't believe it!" 😲
Vaclav Hladky with a HUGE save 👊 pic.twitter.com/zBNcciZgAB
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) March 29, 2024
Blackburn Rovers are in dire need of a win at the moment. Heading into April, the side’s last victory came in the second week of February against fellow relegation-threatened Stoke City as current head coach John Eustace watched on from the stands, having just been handed the job after Jon Dahl Tomasson’s departure.
Since Eustace took charge of his first match away at Birmingham City, the side have failed to win a single match, leaving them three points above the relegation zone with some tricky fixtures on the horizon against the likes of Sunderland, Southampton and Leeds United.
Szmodics has been a bright light in what has been a rather dismal campaign for the Lancashire outfit. The 28-year-old is the top scorer in the Championship with 21 goals in total and has been linked with a move away from the club in the summer.
Blackburn Rovers Draw Up Transfer Plan After Windfall ‘Confirmed’
It was revealed during the week that Premier League outfit Fulham have registered interest in the former Peterborough United man. Now, according to Football Insider, Scottish champions Celtic have joined the race for his signature.
Rovers still hold all the cards as Szmodics has two years remaining on his deal at Ewood Park while the club have the option to extend his stay by a further 12 months. Additionally, the attacker holds a market value of £3.85 million, as per Transfermarkt.
Writer’s View
If Blackburn Rovers get relegated from the Championship, selling Szmodics will almost be a certainty. The Republic of Ireland international is far too good for League One at this stage in his career and has the ability to play at a higher level, whether that be in Europe with Celtic or in the Premier League.
However, the biggest issue suitors will face is his transfer fee. With Szmodics turning 29 in September, Blackburn are unlikely to receive massive money for him, meaning a deal could be dragged out over the course of the summer window.
Be the first to comment