Sammie Szmodics news - Ipswich Town bid rejected, Leeds United interest, friendly absence | OneFootball

A look at the latest news around the Blackburn Rovers attacker

One Blackburn Rovers player who is inevitably attracting interest in this summer's transfer window, is Sammie Szmodics.

While the Ewood Park club largely struggled last season, Szmodics himself thrived in the Championship during the 2023/24 campaign.

The 28-year-old claimed the division's Golden Boot award with 27 league goals, that in the process, almost single handedly kept his side in the Championship.

Not surprisingly given that impact, there has been plenty of speculation around the future of the Republic of Ireland international this summer.

Now though, it appears that clubs are starting to step up their interest in Szmodics even further in the past few days.

So with that in mind, we've taken a look at the latest news around the Blackburn Rovers talisman, right here.

Ipswich Town make their move

One club who look as though they are particularly keen to secure the services of Szmodics this summer, are Ipswich Town.

The Tractor Boys won a second consecutive promotion last season, meaning they are now preparing for life in the Premier League.

As they look to put together a squad capable of competing in the top-flight, reports from the East Anglian Daily Times revealed that the club had seen a £6million bid for Szmodics rejected.

It is suggested that Blackburn value the attacker at around £20million, with two years remaining on his contract at Ewood Park, plus the option of a further 12 months.

However, despite being initially knocked back in their pursuit of the 28-year-old, it seems Kieran McKenna's side may not be giving up in their pursuit of the Rovers man just yet.

According to BBC Sport journalist Nick Mashiter, Ipswich remain persistent in their pursuit of Szmodics, and are "edging closer" to signing the 28-year-old.

Even if Ipswich do not sign Szmodics this summer, the Blackburn man is unlikely to be short of interest from elsewhere either.

According to a report from The Daily Mirror Transfer Blog (22/07, 11:31), Leeds United are also interested in a potential deal for the Irishman this summer.

That comes amid an apparent interest from several Premier League clubs as well, one of which is again noted to be Ipswich.

Leeds of course, missed out on promotion from the Championship to the Premier League last season, after defeat to Southampton in the play-off final, and will be looking to go one better now.

The report also notes that for their part, Blackburn have offered Szmodics a new contract on improved wages, as they attempt to retain his services amid this outside interest.

Any time a player being linked with a move away from a club is absent from pre-season, it will inevitably lead to further questions among a fanbase.

That proved to be the case with Szmodics over the weekend, with the attacker not featuring in either of Rovers' two 60 minute friendlies with German side FC Nuremburg on Saturday afternoon.

Blackburn explained in their pre-match team news announcement that Szmodics had been left out of the match as a "precaution".

He had been forced off in the Rovers' opening pre-season friendly at Accrington Stanley with a knock earlier this month.

But given the attacker had featured against Tranmere the following week, that reasoning may not have fully cleared things up in the minds of some Blackburn fans.