Blues target Sammie Szmodics is reported to have held ‘showdown talks’ with Blackburn Rovers due to his ongoing frustrations regarding the stalled proposed move to Town.

TWTD revealed that the Blues and Rovers were in discussions regarding the 28-year-old more than a fortnight ago with negotiations ongoing since then, Town having lodged an initial bid of £6 million and then made further offers.

Towards the end of last week, the Blues increased the money on the table to £8 million plus add-ons totalling £2 million, which was believed to be enough for Rovers to accept, despite the Lancastrians initially having claimed to want an unrealistic £20 million.

However, the move has still not gone through and, according to TEAMtalk, the player and his agent held “heated” talks with officials from the Championship club on Tuesday evening in order to try and finally get the deal done.

Born in Colchester, Szmodics, a player we understand the Blues have eyed in the last couple of windows, came through the youth ranks with the U’s before breaking into their first team in 2013 prior to a spell on loan in non-league with Braintree.

A move to Bristol City, where Blues CEO Mark Ashton was then in charge, followed in 2019, prior to a switch to Peterborough, initially on loan, before he joined Blackburn in August 2022.

Last season, the forward was top scorer in the Championship with 27 goals, leading to his first international call-ups with the Republic of Ireland. He has now won four full caps.

Photo: Nurphoto

Jeff added 17:24 - Jul 31 Good!
2

Suffolkboy added 17:32 - Jul 31 Speaks to incompetence and inefficiency ,as well as a careless attitude at BR towards players and staff; will do nothing to re- assure anyone there of the Club’s respect and belief in their people as individuals . COYB
0

statto72 added 17:33 - Jul 31 Really hope we can get this over the line
7

Nutkins_Return added 17:41 - Jul 31 In fairness if the shoe was on the other foot would we want our owners to roll over and just do what the player wants? Clearly I hope we get the best deal for us but Blackburn value him higher so can certainly see their end. If it was out player doing showdown 'heated' talks the player would get dogs abuse. Always two sides. Just hope we get this sorted for everyone's sake.

8

Saxonblue74 added 17:48 - Jul 31 I'm on the fence about this potential signing, but as soon as you have a "want away" player you may as well let them go whether that be to us or anyone else
8

ArnieM added 17:48 - Jul 31 Blackburn owners are a bunch of money grabbing to$$as, and it's clear they are stalling in these negotiations. I hope SS tells them he won't play for them anymore and to sell up.
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victorysquad added 17:52 - Jul 31 If we have offered £6 million for him, that is a very strong offer for a 29 year old (september) who has only had one cracking season.
2

Europablue added 18:00 - Jul 31 When you are in the Championship and a Premier League team wants one of your players and the player wants to leave, you basically have to sell (for a reasonable price) at that point. It's best not make too much of a fuss about it. Don't forget they are wasting the amount of time they have to find a replacement.
3

BlueandTruesince82 added 18:08 - Jul 31 It's about being reasonable and having, reading between the lines here so could be wrong, indicated an amour that gets the deal done, for a move the player wants, it feels like they are moving the goalposts, for which they are notorious. Foolhardy
1

Gforce added 18:09 - Jul 31 We are trying to deal with the Venkys ,what do you expect.
2

Cambsrover14 added 18:16 - Jul 31 Pay the asking price. If it's true about him having heated discussions then get away from Ewood noone is bigger than a club. Simple as that. I'm sure you would say the same thing if it was one of your players.
-7

Cambsrover14 added 18:18 - Jul 31 He's under contract arniem for another 3 years including a year option we have so we have every right to demand top money.
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algarvefan added 18:20 - Jul 31 When people talk about him being 29, just remember the career of one Jamie Vardy, I believe he is a player who will be immense for us and very important to sign. On the other hand I could be wrong!!
2

muhrensleftfoot added 18:33 - Jul 31 It sounds like we've been messed about by the Blackburn owners. They have form for this. I imagine our final & reasonable offer based on his age and experience has now been left on the table. Clearly Szmodics would like the move - close to home, Premier League football, and one hears he's a bit of a town fan growing up. I still think this will happen, otherwise Blackburn Rovers will have a very disgruntled player in their ranks

5

Horsham added 18:37 - Jul 31 Pay the asking price? Pay according to what Ipswich thinks he’s worth or no deal. Sounds like Rovers asking price is a moving target anyway.
1

Horsham added 18:37 - Jul 31 Pay the asking price? Pay according to what Ipswich thinks he’s worth or no deal. Sounds like Rovers asking price is a moving target anyway.
0

Cambsrover14 added 18:41 - Jul 31 I said weeks ago 12-15m and we will sell
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Cambsrover14 added 18:45 - Jul 31 Why do you keep saying he supports town? If you done your research he actually supports WEST HAM.
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Cambsrover14 added 18:48 - Jul 31 Here you go for you! Szmodics is a West Ham United fan, and season ticket holder, and was the first to be contacted by many of the squad when the draw was made against Blackburn in the carabao cup.
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TimmyH added 19:01 - Jul 31 Bloody Blackburn!...this is really going on far too long.
1

cressi added 19:03 - Jul 31 Cambridge Rover 12 to 15 millon its not going to happen. I believe Szmodics is a good player, But I don't see any top flight clubs jumping through hoops to buy him at 10 million or less. Blackburn have two choices keep a unhappy player who goes for less money in the future or take the best offer available as I'm fairly sure Ipswich will move on to other targets shortly if not resolved.

1

blues1 added 19:13 - Jul 31 Cambsrover. As the story states, the £8m +£2m add on was believed to be enough. In other words Blackburn had indicated it would be. Now they're messing about. A club run by very poor owners im afraid. The fact they've signed 2 strikers in the past few days proves they know he is going to go, as is Gallagher, so they should just get on with it. What's the point of them keeping a player who clearly doesn't want to be there.

2

andehpandeh added 19:14 - Jul 31 Tenner on Blackburn to go down if this goes ahead. This is how much they want to keep their key, key player. You can't ignore the politics around it.
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bluebullet29l added 19:40 - Jul 31 And the soap opera goes on....he will probably be in his 30's by the time this deal is done...
0

gosblue added 19:50 - Jul 31 The Championship season kicks off in just over a week’s time. Surely BR are under pressure to sell to be able to strengthen. We must have a good idea of how much we are prepared to pay. Ultimately, there will be a price that we are not prepared to go beyond and we should be prepared to walk away. Similarly, if we don’t want to meet Blackburn’s valuation, then they should walk away. The international loan market is about to open up as clubs get back off tour, so time is running out for this deal.

2

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