How Derby County now feel about signing Ipswich Town's Sammie Szmodics - Wrexham AFC will be on red alert | OneFootball

Derby County and Wrexham are both interested in Sammie Szmodics, but the Rams may not be as keen as the Red Dragons.

Wrexham have been boosted in their pursuit of Ipswich Town forward Sammie Szmodics, as Derby County's stance on a move is made clear.

Both the Rams and the Red Dragons have shown a significant interest in the 30-year-old over the course of the last week, with John Eustace's side the first to have a bid rejected for the Republic of Ireland international.

EADT reported on January 28 that Ipswich had knocked back an approach from Derby for their £9m 2024 summer signing. Meanwhile, Wrexham put in a £5m offer of their own, although the Tractor Boys have rated Szmodics at £6m.

Now, with the transfer window set to slam shut at 7pm, it looks as though Phil Parkinson's team have moved into pole position for the player as we close in on the deadline.

Derby County will not be dragged into financial battle for Sammie Szmodics

Szmodics has scored just five goals in the league for Ipswich since joining from Blackburn Rovers in August 2024, and this season, he has found it difficult to find any sort of form with injuries plaguing him.

However, that has not stopped fellow Championship sides from being interested in the 2023/24 Golden Boot winner, and Eustace has been keen on reuniting himself with his former star at Ewood Park.

Yet, BBC Radio Derby's Dominic Dietrich has stated on X that Derby are not looking to get into a financial battle over Szmodics, and this has handed Wrexham the lead in the race for the ex-Peterborough United man.

Dietrich said: "If anything changes, I’d imagine it will be a case of waiting for selling club really if they give the green light and lower the asking price. Derby not getting involved in an auction for him as I understand it."

Kieran McKenna on Sammie Szmodics' future at Ipswich Town

Szmodics was not involved in Ipswich's 1-1 draw with Preston North End over the weekend, with McKenna confirming the reason for his absence following the game.

The Tractor Boys' head coach said (via: EADT): "There's not too much change from what we said yesterday. There's been some offers, nothing that the club sees as acceptable. If that doesn't change, he'll be here come Tuesday.

"But we thought, in the light of that and a few other things, it was better to go with the other players today."

It is clear that Ipswich will not move on their valuation of Szmodics, and while he has not shown the same level of form in this Championship campaign as he did his last, the Suffolk outfit want to recoup as much as they can from his original fee.

For Derby, it looks likely that their pursuit is all but over, and any potential move may have to wait until the summer, if at all.