Condition that might see Ipswich Town block Sammie Szmodics exit made clear | OneFootball

FLW's Ipswich Town fan pundit feels that the length of Jaden Philogene's current injury may reveal whether Szmodics will be expendable this January

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Sammie Szmodics scored his first goal at Portman Road for Ipswich Town on Saturday against his former club, Blackburn Rovers.

The 30-year-old was one of the numerous standout players from the 2023/24 Championship campaign who made the step-up to the Premier League with the newly-promoted Ipswich side, after a 27-goal campaign with Blackburn prompted an £11 million fee from the Tractor Boys in August 2024.

Unfortunately, various injuries have halted his progression at his new club, playing just 20 times in the top flight last season due to ankle injuries, and then there have been two layoffs already upon his return to the Championship due to a knee issue and then illness.

It's been so far, so good, going forward this season for Ipswich, despite the absence of the former Golden Boot winner. Therefore, fellow Championship side Derby County, managed by former Blackburn manager John Eustace, have registered their interest in his services.

That was, though, before Szmodics made his first second-tier appearance in a month to score his first of the season and add gloss to an impressive 3-0 win.

Ipswich Town fan pundit ponders Sammie Szmodics' future

After a goalscoring return to Championship action, many have been questioning whether Szmodics would be sticking around for the foreseeable future at Portman Road, after there were indications that his time with Ipswich may have been up this January.

FLW's Ipswich fan pundit, Adam Wilkin, weighed up the options this month and described the 30-year-old's current circumstances as "tricky".

"I think the situation with Szmodics is a tricky one, as his injury record isn't great, and at 30 [years old], his age isn't great, either," he said.

"He's a proven Championship scorer, but for me, he's not the best fit right now as a starting number 10 for us.

"In an ideal world, you'd just get rid of the players who you don't want, but they don't necessarily have so much interest in them, whereas Szmodics is still a saleable asset.

"So if a team comes in with a permanent bid, you could still see him on the way out, even with his goal at the weekend."

Ultimately, Wilkin feels that Ipswich may be a little more reserved in trying to get Szmodics out of the club if the injury that Jaden Philogene sustained against Blackburn turns out to be worse than what is already feared.

The 23-year-old was replaced by Jack Clarke in the first half after limping off with a knee injury.

"I think it'll depend on the extent of Philogene's injury and if that impacts things," Wilkin stated.

"If he's out for an extended period, then he'll hang around. But if not, I can see him moving on. It's up in the balance at the moment."

Sammie Szmodics would still be a backup at Ipswich Town, even if Jaden Philogene's injury is worse than expected

Kieran McKenna has a surplus of attacking talent waiting in the wings if any of his starters get injured. The fact that Clarke, who was a standout player in the EFL for several years at Sunderland, was the immediate replacement, highlights that.

Szmodics can clearly operate in the wide attacking midfield position, but his more natural position is just behind the striker, a position that Marcelino Nunez has had on lockdown over the past couple of months.

Evidently, if Philogene is set to be out for a prolonged period, the 11-time Republic of Ireland international would still be waiting in the wings for the majority of the rest of the campaign.

And as he enters his thirties, Ipswich are running out of time to recoup some of the £11 million they spent on him a year and a half ago.

Szmodics proved against his former side that there's still a Championship-level dangerman in there, but as Wilkin said, injuries and additions elsewhere have perhaps seen the Ipswich squad outgrow the 30-year-old.

Therefore, even if the Philogene injury hits the worst-case scenario, Ipswich may still be wise to listen to offers for the former Championship Golden Boot winner over the coming weeks.