Szmodics ‘Showdown Talks’ With Blackburn
Blues target Sammie Szmodics is reported to have held ‘showdown talks’ with Blackburn Rovers due to his ongoing frustrations regarding the stalled proposed move to Town.
TWTD revealed that the Blues and Rovers were in discussions regarding the 28-year-old more than a fortnight ago with negotiations ongoing since then, Town having lodged an initial bid of £6 million and then made further offers.
Towards the end of last week, the Blues increased the money on the table to £8 million plus add-ons totalling £2 million, which was believed to be enough for Rovers to accept, despite the Lancastrians initially having claimed to want an unrealistic £20 million.
However, the move has still not gone through and, according to TEAMtalk, the player and his agent held “heated” talks with officials from the Championship club on Tuesday evening in order to try and finally get the deal done.
Born in Colchester, Szmodics, a player we understand the Blues have eyed in the last couple of windows, came through the youth ranks with the U’s before breaking into their first team in 2013 prior to a spell on loan in non-league with Braintree.
A move to Bristol City, where Blues CEO Mark Ashton was then in charge, followed in 2019, prior to a switch to Peterborough, initially on loan, before he joined Blackburn in August 2022.
Last season, the forward was top scorer in the Championship with 27 goals, leading to his first international call-ups with the Republic of Ireland. He has now won four full caps.
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Premier League club now in advanced talks to sign attacking midfielder with 27 goals after Leeds end pursuit
Leeds United have chosen to step back from their interest in Blackburn Rovers’ attacking midfielder Sammie Szmodics.
According to Football Insider, Leeds have ended their pursuit of Szmodics, who is now in advanced discussions with newly promoted Premier League side Ipswich Town. This development makes a transfer to Elland Road unlikely for the 28-year-old Irish international.
Szmodics’ impact at Blackburn
Szmodics joined Blackburn Rovers in August 2022 on a three-year contract for a modest fee of €2 million. Since then, he has made a significant impact at the club, quickly becoming a key player.
Szmodics’ contributions were crucial for Blackburn, as he ended the season as the league’s top scorer, with 27 goals in 44 appearances.
His efforts were instrumental in ensuring Blackburn’s continued presence in the Championship. His impressive performances last season also earned him a spot in the EFL Championship Team of the Season.
Despite their initial interest, Leeds United have decided not to proceed with the signing of Szmodics. This decision coincides with Ipswich Town’s move to secure the talented midfielder.
Leeds are now expected to redirect their focus towards other targets to strengthen their squad for the upcoming season.
