Town remain in talks regarding the signing of Blackburn forward Sammie Szmodics, according to Rovers boss John Eustace, however, we understand the Lancastrians have turned down another Blues bid.

TWTD revealed that Town were in discussions with the Championship side regarding Szmodics more than three weeks ago with the Blues having put in an initial offer of £6 million.

That was rebuffed and a number of subsequent bids were made before Town made an offer of £8 million plus a further £2 million just over a week ago, a figure which was expected to be enough to be accepted, despite claims Rovers want an unlikely £20 million for the Colchester-born attacker.

TWTD understands Rovers turning down that bid was what triggered Szmodics, who is understood to be very keen on the move, and his agent to hold showdown talks with the Rovers management on Tuesday.

Szmodics was left out of the Blackburn team which won 1-0 at Stockport in a friendly on Friday night and Rovers manager Eustace says discussions with the Blues continue.

“He's still in talks with Ipswich, I believe, so we'll have to see what happens,” he told The Lancashire Telegraph.

“Listen, Sammie is a top player, I don't want to lose him as a head coach but we'll have to see what happens on that.”

Eustace was questioned on reports that Blackburn had set a deadline of the end of July for the deal to be completed.

“I am sure there is a deadline and I think we're just waiting on that over the weekend, I think,” he added.

“He's been training, he has been his bubbly self around the place. If he stays then he will be involved for sure.”

Szmodics, a player we understand the Blues have eyed in the last couple of windows, came through the youth ranks with hometown club Colchester 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

poet added 10:39 - Aug 3 Looks as though Blackburn are attempting to have one over on Town. 20m is a far fetched assessment of his value. In my opinion we’ve offered in excess of what he’s worth, time to move on. The sad thing about Blackburn’s methods of dealing with Town, is that the only real loser here is Szmodics. If he doesn’t get to the PL now, he probably won’t before he retires. I doubt very much he’s happy as was suggested by the BR manager, he’s reported to have had talks with them, he wants the move, so I’d say they have a very unsettled player on their hands, a situation that they have created. Very smart.

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herfie added 10:59 - Aug 3 We need to stay on the high ground as this protracted saga drags on. Offer a fair and realistic fee - but if it becomes clear - as it probably already is - that we’re dealing with a bunch of greedy owners, then bid them good day, and move on: and never deal with them again. We will not be held to ransome for an undoubtedly quality player, but one who lacks PL experience and is older than KM’s ideal profile. Risks and rewards, but not at any price!

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Europablue added 11:11 - Aug 3 Can you imagine what people would have been saying about the Morsy deal if we had this much scrutiny on our League One transfer dealings? He admitted that he was reluctant to join us in League One. I imagine there was quite a bit of toing and froing on that one, but it just wasn't reported on. Morsy was surplus to requirements, so that side of the deal was fairly easy, in this case Blackburn don't want to sell SS. I can't stand the ups and downs of the transfer saga, but I'm the one subjecting myself to this. I was getting fed up with the Philogene deal because I was concerned that it would mess up the Greaves deal. In this case we are still negotiating other deals, the proof is that Townsend just signed. We could easily get the deal over the line by offering 20 million, but then it would ruin our transfer strategy. Blackburn are definitely messing us around and disrupting their whole team. I don't understand why we can't just agree the fee in one meeting. Surely they have a fee that they will accept, and surely we have a fee that is the cut off point. Maybe, they think that they can outlast us, but it really feels like it is more damaging to them than us.

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virginblue added 11:12 - Aug 3 The state of some of these replies. If someone bid half what we valued Leif at what would you be saying? This is how things work in the PL. Fees will be inflated.
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gosblue added 11:33 - Aug 3 Surely cash is king. £8m in Blackburn’s bank account on Monday morning must be tempting for them. That has to be better than selling him elsewhere for thirty bob-a-week. Other clubs may want to spread the payments. Leeds apparently owe millions in yet to be paid instalments. If all else fails, save the £10m and put it towards a £20m prem striker.
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Smithy63 added 12:03 - Aug 3 Move on as to me any more will be ott. Get an 20+agedplus player that has a scoring record.leave him to carry on playing championship games.plus we only have 3 wks max to get the team to gel together
1

SickParrot added 12:04 - Aug 3 I want us to sign him and I have previously advocated patience whilst negotiations continue. However, I do now feel that this can't be allowed to drag on any longer, so we should make a final "take it or leave it" offer (10 million plus add ons?) and move on.
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delias_cheesy_flaps added 12:19 - Aug 3 If he was that keen to come to Ipswich I would expect him to have a termination clause in his existing Contract with Rovers....I'd be using it if I was him!
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FrankMarshall added 12:22 - Aug 3 I feel sorry for the player and he clearly wants to move on. Unfortunately, it's also time for us to move on and stop negotiating with Blackburn over any of their players. They already have a more than fair offer, time to look elsewhere.
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cranky_old_tractor added 12:30 - Aug 3 Time to switch attention. Presume SS will not be happy and Rovers owners are something else. Need a few more players but still time. Up the Towen
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RegencyBlue added 12:55 - Aug 3 Make a final offer. Give them 24 hours to accept. If not, move on!
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littlestoneblue added 13:08 - Aug 3 If I was Sammie I would say to the owners you either let me go to Ipswich as they have offered a very good price for my services if you don't accept it I will cancel my contract with Blackburn and be a free agent, You have set the date of 31st July for a final offer to be in and Ipswich have complied to this, obviously, you don't care for your player's welfare so I'm off as this is the last chance at my age I will get to -play in the premiership and you are denying me this opportunity through greed, and it's not as though other teams are lining up to ay what you want.

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TomCruise added 13:11 - Aug 3 I am totally split on this now. We have invested so much time in Szmodics now that not getting him would represent a huge waste of time. At 6 million he is a good signing as an option, at 10 million it is a large fee on someone who I don't think is really any better than what we already have. There are other areas that are a priority. I will feel a little bit anxious if we have only added Szmodics between now and Liverpool...

1

dirtydingusmagee added 13:13 - Aug 3 Time to pull the plug on this one and i hope it backfires on Rovers big time.We cant be fooked about any longer its important now to be preparing for the new season. ,not dancing to their tune.
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gosblue added 13:14 - Aug 3 One positive from this is that it’s taking attention away from all our other ‘ongoing’ deals. We haven’t yet seen much activity in the previously mentioned overseas market but that will come to life as tours come to an end and squads start to take shape.
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itfc2024 added 13:30 - Aug 3 Blues1 they probably are looking at other deals but its getting boring now all focus on 1 player when i was watpching last week i could see 3 or 4 areas that need big investment focus on those areas and if Blackburn sell they sell if not better players out their than him
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ITFCson added 13:30 - Aug 3 Must be a real dearth of other targets/options if we keep persisting with trying to buy this player despite Blackburn seemingly being wanting a lot higher than our valuation.
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Karlosfandangal added 14:02 - Aug 3 Blackburn must have loads of money…..as they do t need the sale of Szmodics to rebuild. I can see why Blackburn are holding out for more money as there are so many clubs lining up to buy him……oh wait
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TonyHumesIpswich added 14:24 - Aug 3 Enough is enough. We should stop this process and offer some serious money for the No 18 who plays for Fortuna Düsseldorf (he's 22 years old and has been nothing short of sensational in his last 4 games for the club-against quality opposition). We all know what'll happen anyway when a bid does get accepted. Leeds/Southampton et al will suddenly join in as soon as they know what the situation is.

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mikeybloo88 added 15:28 - Aug 3 We’re going to have a great team to get us back up if we do get relegated...get him in
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tetchris added 17:34 - Aug 3 Eustace says he is talks with Ipswich. Doesn’t say the two clubs are in talks. Suggests that maybe we can’t agree terms with him and the fee is agreed?
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pablo123 added 21:48 - Aug 3 Forget him , I was a big fan of his , but let sh#tty Blackburn keep him , look elsewhere now plz
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