Ipswich Town have had another offer for Blackburn Rovers forward Sammie Szmodics turned down.
According to TWTD, talks between the two clubs are still ongoing despite the latest rejection from the Championship side.
The Tractor Boys are looking to build a team capable of competing in the Premier League this season following their promotion last year.
Szmodics has been identified after an impressive campaign at Ewood Park, where he contributed 27 goals from 44 appearances (all stats from Fbref).
The 28-year-old was the division’s top scorer, as he proved crucial to Rovers avoiding relegation to League One.
Ipswich Town’s Sammie Szmodics interest
Ipswich’s initial offer of £6 million was rejected by Blackburn in July, with Kieran McKenna keen to bolster his attacking options.
Now a second bid in the region of £8 million, with £2 million of add-ons included as well, has also been turned down. The rejection of this most recent offer has reportedly led to crunch talks between Szmodics and Blackburn, as he seeks a resolution on his future.
Manager John Eustace has opened up on the situation surrounding the forward’s situation.
He admitted that he doesn’t want to lose someone of Szmodics’ quality this summer, and that time is running out on a deal being completed.
“He’s still in talks with Ipswich, I believe, so we’ll have to see what happens,” said Eustace, via The Lancashire Telegraph.
“Listen, Sammie is a top player, I don’t want to lose him as a head coach but we’ll have to see what happens on that. I am sure there is a deadline and I think we’re just waiting on that over the weekend, I think.
“He’s been training, he has been his bubbly self around the place. If he stays then he will be involved for sure.”
Sammie Szmodics’ importance to Blackburn
| Sammie Szmodics’ stats 2023/24 – per Fbref.com | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Stat | Per 90 | ||
| Non-penalty goals | 0.62 | ||
| Non-penalty expected goals (npxG) | 0.50 | ||
| Shots | 3.32 | ||
| Assists | 0.06 | ||
| Expected assists (xAG) | 0.12 | ||
| npxG + xAG | 0.62 | ||
| Shot-creating actions | 2.70 | ||
Szmodics signed for Rovers in the summer of 2022 from Peterborough United after their relegation to League One.
The Ireland international has gone on to make 78 appearances in the Championship for Blackburn over the last two seasons.
He registered five goals and two assists in his first term at Ewood Park, but cemented himself as crucial to the side with his 27 efforts in 2023/24.
Szmodics’ departure would be a huge blow to Eustace’s side, if it does come to fruition, given his prolific scoring streak over the last 12 months.
Rovers’ open their league campaign on 9 August with a home game against the newly-promoted Derby County.
Blackburn need Szmodics resolution soon
Blackburn are holding out for as big of a fee as they can get for Szmodics, but their need for cash does weaken their negotiating position.
Selling Szmodics could allow them to reinvest that money into improving the squad as a whole, which might be more important than holding onto the forward.
Losing his goals would be massive, of course, but there are still other areas of the team that need to be addressed.
Either way, Blackburn need some kind of resolution soon so that they can get started on the rest of their remaining summer business, as this is now dragging on into multiple weeks.
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