Blackburn Rovers attacker Sammie Szmodics is wanted by Premier League new boys Ipswich Town, according to journalist Alan Nixon.
The Tractor Boys’ offer, however, is said to be well below Rovers’ valuation of the player, with the Lancashire side holding out for £20 million for the 28-year-old.
Szmodics was Blackburn’s key man last campaign, finishing as the Championship’s top scorer with 27 goals as his side escaped relegation on the final day. It was Szmodics’ goals that kept his team up, with a brace against champions Leicester City ensuring they retained their second-tier status.
Rovers have offered Szmodics a new deal but are said to be willing to sell at the right price, with the player keen to prove himself in the Premier League.
Colchester-born Republic of Ireland international Szmodics started his career at his hometown club before an unsuccessful move to Bristol City in 2019. He then moved to Peterborough United after a successful loan spell, where he made his name before moving to Blackburn. The attacker has gone on to make 89 appearances at Ewood Park, scoring 40 goals, which has left Premier League sides circling.
Ipswich are reported to be keen on Szmodics as they approach their first top-flight season in over two decades and have been busy in the transfer window thus far. Arijanet Muric and Jacob Greaves have signed from Championship sides Burnley and Hull City respectively, and boss Kieran McKenna is said to be keen to add more homegrown players to his ranks, with Szmodics towards the top of his list.
Blackburn will be hoping they can keep Szmodics as they look to improve on a disappointing 2023-24 campaign where they would have almost certainly been relegated without the 28-year-old’s goals. Rovers have been quiet in the window so far, and their main objective on the transfer front looks to be keeping their star man rather than any ambitions for incomings.
Writer’s View
Szmodics deserves this move, but his club will be hoping nothing materialises. The player was central to Blackburn’s survival last year and it’s hard to see how their fate improves without him. They would almost certainly be in League One now if it wasn’t for him and will be hoping to avoid the same fate in 2024-25 so will be desperate to keep the attacker.
As for Ipswich, they seem to be the perfect place for Szmodics to get his Premier League move, and he would certainly help them as they bid to avoid immediate relegation.