Derby County want £25k-p/w Ipswich Town man - Birmingham, Blackburn and Norwich must make moves ASAP | OneFootball

Sammie Szmodics has struggled at Ipswich Town this season and has been linked with a move to Derby County

Sammie Szmodics could leave Ipswich Town this January, with the attacking midfielder having struggled for form at Portman Road this campaign - and three other sides should join Derby County in the hunt for his signature.

The Tractor Boys have finally come to in the Championship after a slow start to life back in the second tier, but it hasn't been the season that Szmodics would have been hoping for.

Kieran McKenna's side may finally be getting results to put them into automatic promotion contention, but the biggest disappointment of their campaign has to be the form of 30-year-old Szmodics, who has yet to contribute directly to a goal this season in 13 appearances, although his minutes have been limited due to injury.

The Championship's top goalscorer with Blackburn Rovers in 2023-24 with 27 goals, Szmodics has suffered recurring ankle injuries, a knee injury, and illness this campaign, which has greatly hindered his output.

According to the East Anglian Times, Derby County are said to be interested in the Republic of Ireland international if he becomes available, with his former Blackburn boss John Eustace wanting to re-unite with Szmodics - but there's likely going to be more clubs wanting to take him for the remainder of the season.

Here, we take a look at THREE other Championship clubs who should be readying moves for the diminutive attacker, who is estimated, as per Capology, to be on £25,000 a week at Portman Road, should McKenna sanction an exit this month.

Birmingham City

Having missed out on Chuba Akpom in the summer to Ipswich, Birmingham City should look to pluck Szmodics from Ipswich this January.

The Blues could potentially part ways with Japanese forward Kyogo Furuhashi this January, as, like Szmodics, he hasn't been able to contribute directly to a goal or an assist so far this season.

Celtic are reportedly interested in a return for Kyogo to Scotland, potentially leaving Birmingham short in attacking areas - particularly in the roles behind the striker, with Demarai Gray currently out injured and the number 10 role being a constant issue for head coach Chris Davies.

With Ipswich and Birmingham likely having somewhat of a sour relationship over the Akpom saga in the summer, whether this deal is at all a possibility remains to be seen, but Blues should nevertheless try their luck for a loan switch this winter for a proven Championship marksman.

Blackburn Rovers

A short return to the place which propelled Szmodics into the limelight could be a great move for all parties.

Blackburn sold the Irishman to Ipswich in the summer of 2024 for a fee of around £11 million following the Tractor Boys' promotion to the Premier League.

Szmodics had hit 27 goals and four assists in the 2023/24 season for Rovers, despite their low league finish, ending the season as the Championship's top goalscorer.

The player and club will no doubt still have a good relationship with one another, and though a permanent move is likely out of the question, a loan return to Ewood Park this January could be an exceptional deal for all parties.

It would allow Szmodics to return to a place where he has previously thrived and where he can hopefully find his feet once again, and shift his wages off the books at Ipswich for the meantime ahead of a return to the club in the summer.

Blackburn are at risk of slipping into a relegation battle if they are not careful, and the return of Szmodics would go some way to ease the pressure on those concerns, one would imagine.

Norwich City

Now, this suggestion is bound to cause a stir between both fanbases.

Chilean midfielder Marcelino Nunez became the first player to directly transfer between the two rival clubs since goalkeeper Andy Marshall in 2001, with Norwich agreeing to a reported £10 million fee to allow him to join Ipswich.

The transfer, understandably, caused a stir within the Canaries fanbase, with sporting director Ben Knapper coming under fire for his decision to sanction the deal.

Whilst deals between the two clubs are few and far between, and given the toxic response to the Nunez deal this summer, any deals between the two rivals at this stage appear highly unlikely.

Nevertheless, with Ante Crnac, Amankwah Forson, Jeffrey Schlupp, and Papa Diallo all spending prolonged periods in the treatment room, reinforcements in attacking areas are desperately required at Carrow Road.

Ali Ahmed has already joined the club from Vancouver Whitecaps, though Norwich is unlikely to stop their business there.

Any move, especially a loan move, more Szmodics between the two clubs, would seemingly be almost impossible, but that shouldn't stop the Canaries from taking a swipe back at their rivals after the Nunez deal and taking a punt to bring Szmodics from Suffolk to Norfolk this winter.