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Blackburn Rovers: Update emerges on Ipswich Town talks over Sammie Szmodics
Talks between Blackburn and Ipswich for Sammie Szmodics continue, with no agreement reached after over a week.
Szmodics became a wanted player due to his impressive goal-scoring form in the Championship, especially after scoring 27 goals.
Ipswich is Szmodics’ preferred destination, Leeds United pulled out of the race, but the deal is still pending before the transfer window closes.
Blackburn Rovers and Ipswich Town are yet to strike an agreement for Sammie Szmodics as talks between the two clubs continue.
According to the Lancashire Telegraph, discussions over a transfer have been ongoing for more than a week.
Szmodics has become a wanted man this summer following his impressive goal-scoring form in the Championship last year.
The Ireland international was the top scorer in the division, bagging 27 goals as Blackburn narrowly avoided relegation to League One (all stats from Fbref).
Szmodics has a contract with Rovers until the summer of 2026, with the option of extending that by a further 12 months, but a departure from Ewood Park could happen as soon as this month.
Sammie Szmodics transfer latest
Szmodics has been linked with a move away from Rovers throughout the summer window, but a deal has yet to materialise.
Leeds United were also in the race for his signature, but it has been reported that the Whites have since pulled out.
Ipswich can offer Szmodics the opportunity to compete in the Premier League next season following their promotion to the top flight.
It is understood that the forward’s preference is to make the switch to Portman Road, and it is expected that a deal will be found between Ipswich and Blackburn before the window shuts later this month.
The 28-year-old is set to sit out the club’s upcoming friendly fixtures, as they are unwilling to risk him suffering some kind of injury that could jeopardise talks.
It was previously reported that Blackburn had set an asking price worth £20 million for Szmodics.
However, Ipswich’s initial offer for the forward was believed to be valued at just £8.5 million, plus add-ons, highlighting the difference in valuation between the two clubs at the moment.
Ipswich have until 30 August to find an agreement with Rovers before the window closes for the remainder of the calendar year.
Sammie Szmodics’ importance to Blackburn
Szmodics signed for Blackburn in the summer of 2022 from Peterborough United, and has made 78 appearances in the league for the Lancashire outfit in the two years since.
He was a regular presence in the side as the team came seventh in the table in 2023, but cemented himself as a key member of the squad over the last 12 months.
His goals were crucial to the club coming 19th in the table, avoiding relegation to the third tier by just three points.
Szmodics’ departure this summer will come as a huge blow to John Eustace, who will be hoping to invest the funds earned from his sale, if a deal can be struck before the market shuts.
Szmodics sale delay is hurting Blackburn
It is inevitable that Szmodics will leave Blackburn this summer, as the opportunity to move to Ipswich is too good to turn down.
However, the longer it drags on the worse it could be for Rovers as they will run out of time to reinvest that money back into Eustace’s side.
While the window closes at the end of the month, the new campaign starts in just over a week, and Eustace will want most of his business done by then.
But these talks dragging on complicates that even further, and could lead to a difficult start to the season for the club if they’re not careful.