Blackburn Rovers Find New Target In Szmodics Replacement Search

Blackburn Rovers are facing competition from fellow Championship clubs as they seek to find a replacement for Sammie Szmodics amidst rumours about the midfielder’s future.

The Irish international stormed his way to the Championship Golden Boot last season in a Rovers side that struggled at the wrong end of the table, finishing 19th place and three points above the drop zone. Rumours have circulated around the 28-year-old for months about a move away from Ewood Park from Premier League sides.

According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Exeter City‘s Millenic Alli is being evaluated as a potential signing by the Lancashire club, but are in a battle with Bristol City and Cardiff City over his signature. The 24-year-old joined the Grecians last January from National League side FC Halifax Town and made an impact with four goals in 10 League One appearances.

Having won the FA Trophy with the Shaymen the season before, Alli earned a move to the Football League to Exeter for an undisclosed fee and immediately showed his goalscoring prowess with a brace against Port Vale in his first league start for the club. He arrived at St James’ Park with a fitness issue, meaning his debut for Gary Caldwell’s side was delayed until March against Peterborough United.

He is not the first name to be touted with a move to Blackburn this summer, with Kilmarnock forward Theo Bair also being reported as a target for John Eustace’s side. The latest suggestions are that a substantial offer is needed for Motherwell to consider selling the Canadian forward.

Szmodics scored 33 times across 48 appearances last season to keep Rovers safe by the end of the season, and should he move on to new pastures, a new consistent goal scorer would need to come through the door to replace him. No other player in the squad scored more than double digits last season, with Arnor Sigurdsson coming the next closest with six goals.

Writer’s View

Blackburn Rovers have targeted forwards in the summer break, probably to try and find suitable names to try and contribute a strong goal tally for their season. Having an attacking midfielder score nearly half of all your league goals last season is a damning indictment on a club’s forward line so weighing up transfers is the best choice to improve that part of the squad. If these new signings can get close to reaching Szmodics’ goal tally last season then it will have been a successful window for the Blue and Whites.

Millenic Alli has been an exciting forward for some time with Halifax Town and finally earned his big break in January to a League One club in Exeter City. His start may have been stunted by an injury but has shown his class in his limited appearances towards the end of the season and there is no reason why that won’t continue. It would be a great payday for City too as it would be very unlikely not to sell off a new player without some profit being made.

A move to a Championship club just six months shy of making your last appearance in the National League should be a daunting prospect but joining a club like Blackburn could be a good move as they have a lot of room to grow following their weak showing last season. It would be silly to bring only one striker in this summer so it is likely that Alli will be joined by one or two other names through the door before the season starts again.

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