Everton plotting £10m-£15m Sammie Szmodics transfer raid on Blackburn Rovers

Sean Dyche’s Everton have been linked with a move for Blackburn Rovers’ Szmodics this summer.

According to Football Transfers, the targeting of Sammie Szmodics in the window will be supported by the injection of capital from new majority stakeholders 777.

It has been reported that Blackburn Rovers are demanding a fee of up to £20 million to secure the services of their star talent, which would definitely be a factor for a financially-uncertain Everton.

Transfer business from Everton will be cost-effective with Financial Fair Play shackling huge spending, with the club seeing the midfielder as a potential bargain.

His astonishing season in the Championship has been the best of his career, grabbing 31 goals in 47 games in all competitions.

The Republic of Ireland international has spent most of his playing career in the lower reaches of the EFL, with his breakout 16 goal 2020/21 season at Peterborough earning him a move to Ewood Park.

The influence that he has had since joining Blackburn in 2022 is massive, saving their blushes in a chaotic couple of years at the club that nearly resulted in relegation this season.

He has been on an upward trajectory over the last few seasons, but Everton’s survival in the Premier League could make his move more complicated.

Sean Dyche may look at the likes of Sammie Szmodics as more of a squad player going into the 2024/25 season, with his midfield becoming so efficient at providing goals and assists to claw those precious top-flight points.

However, bringing in a naturally gifted attacking midfielder would not go unappreciated by the very defensive setup Dyche has implemented.

Szmodics may well have the pick of the bunch

Alongside potential interest from Everton, it has also been rumoured that both Brentford and Luton Town are interested in securing Szmodics’ signature this summer. Brentford in particular would be an exciting move for the ROI player, as manager Thomas Frank is known for nurturing midfield talents.

One of his biggest successes in this area was with Sergi Canos, who signed for the club in 2017 as a youngster. Frank was able to make the spanish attacker versatile in the Premier League, playing him either on the wing or through the middle.

Luton Town’s pursuit of Szmodics would be contingent on their Premier League survival, which is looking more like a coin-toss the closer to the final day we get.

What can be said about Rob Edwards’ side is that they excel in the Championship style of football, long and direct play. Szmodics would be a perfect fit for this system, frequently making those forward runs in John Eustace’s Blackburn side.

However, like with Everton, the price tag of £20 million may well be enough to put the Hatters off making serious plans for him.

Everton’s summer strategy could be a complex issue

With Everton emerging as one of the potential destinations for Sammie Szmodics, we asked Football League World writers if he would be a good fit in Sean Dyche’s squad.

Here is a look at what they had to say.

Adam Hulme-Thomas

For the right price, the addition of Sammie Szmodics could be a masterstroke for Everton next season. He’ll add much needed flair up front and be a frequent igniter of that Goodison Park atmosphere.

The current midfield lineup at the club aren’t goal-centric but have done brilliantly in scoring those critical ones this season. Abdoulaye Doucouré being a goal behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin on 6 goals is outrageous and should be hailed for his performances.

This is where Szmodics would have to fill that role, as Everton clearly need an effective bagsman from midfield to make up for inefficiency up top.

What The Toffees need to be careful of is their financial situation, as Blackburn won’t want to part with their best player in a cut-price deal.

A £10m-£15m deal could raise eyebrows, but I think it would be worth it for the 28-year-old in the medium to long term. Anything over that and it’s a massive financial victory for Blackburn Rovers.

I do think that a move to Brentford would be better for Szmodics, as I think he’s a player who would suit Thomas Frank more in the way he plays.

As a Championship manager for a while with The Bees, Frank is surely familiar with the attacker’s game and that Championship way of playing.

What’s also important is that Brentford will have an influx of cash this season from the potential sale of Ivan Toney, who has openly expressed his desire to leave. This will surely be more likely.

Sam Rourke

It’s not a surprise to see several top-flight clubs keep tabs on Sammie Szmodics’ situation as we head into the summer.

The 28-year-old has had a quite remarkable season in what has been a struggling Blackburn Rovers side, scoring 25 Championship goals and standing out as one of the second-tier’s best players with him nominated for the EFL Championship player of the season award.

Szmodics, who is naturally an attacking midfielder, has been playing in a more advanced striker role for John Eustace’s side and it’s worked wonders with him helping to comfortably fill the creative void left by Ben Brereton-Diaz.

The Rovers star would certainly add a different dimension to the Toffees’ current attacking line-up and would offer an alternative solution to Calvert-Lewin, Beto and Chermiti.

Whilst not blessed with searing pace, Szmodics has an excellent work-ethic and can press from the front with real conviction and effect, a trait that Everton boss Sean Dyche will definitely appreciate and admire.

Any fee north of £15m is too much though in my eyes for Szmodics.

He’s had one standout season and is now 28 years of age so the Toffees won’t get any re-sale value on the player – with budgets seemingly tight at Everton as well for the foreseeable future, they shouldn’t push the boat out to land a player whom they won’t get any return on their investment.