Blackburn Rovers CEO Steve Waggott says he understands why Blues target Sammie Szmodics is keen on a move to the Premier League and isn’t ruling out the protracted switch happening between now and the transfer window closing.

TWTD revealed that Town were in discussions with the Championship side regarding Szmodics nearly a month 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 almost a fortnight ago, a figure which Rovers had indicated would be accepted, despite claims they had wanted an unlikely £20 million for the Colchester-born attacker.

But Rovers turned down that bid, triggering Szmodics, who is understood to be very keen on the move, and his agent to hold showdown talks with the Rovers management last Tuesday. No developments are believed to have taken place since then.

“It's been a real rollercoaster of a few weeks. We would love Sammie to stay,” Waggott told Rovers TV.

“I have texted him and said nothing would give me greater pleasure than him walking out with the squad against Derby County for the first game of the season on Friday.

“At his age, everyone wants to play at the top level and we get that. At Sammie's age, he's 29 next birthday, the clock is ticking. We have to be aware of his situation.

“From a club situation, we'd love to keep him and spend the rest of his playing days here. The transfer window is open so we'll see how we get on in the next few weeks.

“He is back training with the squad. He's integrated into it and he's picked up in his colourful self. Let's see how we get on in the next few weeks.”

Szmodics came through the youth ranks with hometown club Colchester United 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

ibbleobble added 19:12 - Aug 8 Boring. Not interested any more. Far too much energy wasted on this move.
8

cooper4england added 19:24 - Aug 8 Ibbleoodle- sad to say I now agree. Don't care either way now . Just wish we could move on.
9

HopefulBlue69 added 19:26 - Aug 8 It's a sad situation but we can't be held hostage by a club that clearly want more than a players worth. I hope that we give them a deadline of Sunday (say 5pm) to accept the current offer or the deal is dead... We need to move on to protect the our future...
14

Andy32Cracknell added 19:29 - Aug 8 Move on, he really ain’t that good. Far too much time and energy wasted already.
3

BlueWax added 19:32 - Aug 8 Eustace, Goodman, Waggot...who's next to try and encourage us to cough up further?!....the player must be totally drained....same as most of us!
2

TheMover added 19:40 - Aug 8 He text him, didn't even have the courtesy to call him
11

Hatman2 added 19:41 - Aug 8 We don’t have “a few weeks”!
3

Monkey_Blue added 19:43 - Aug 8 I suspect that text would have wound Szmodics up. No offence to Blackburn but it’s a club where the owners don’t know what they are doing and couldn’t care less about the club. I’m not entirely sure why we haven’t asked Blackburn what shape this deal is and let them know we hope it has lots of sharp edges just before we tell them to shove it up their a*se.
5

markytitfc added 19:52 - Aug 8 Why do we have to have szmodics life story at the end of every report about him? Boring. Move on
3

bluebullet29l added 20:00 - Aug 8 Well said markytitfc.....couldn't agree more
0

ArnieM added 20:02 - Aug 8 The simple FACT is Blackburn dont want lose Szmodics and are doing everything in their power to avoid agreeing to this deal That's it!
3

ArnieM added 20:04 - Aug 8 ...and Blackburn are deliberately kicking the can down the road, running down the transfer clock and hoping that Town walk away out of frustration. If / When Town do walk away, Blackburn will have won.
1

Swailsey added 20:09 - Aug 8 Lol. News commenters are a different breed.
0

Gforce added 20:10 - Aug 8 It's not happening, move on.Go after Clarke at Sunderland and the Birmingham lad ,James ,both younger and better options.
6

chepstowblue added 20:20 - Aug 8 Seems peculiar that Stoke nabbed Gallagher from Blackburn with the minimum of fuss. I'm still very peeved that we didn't get Moore. A huge error.
-5

shadoof1016 added 20:29 - Aug 8 We truly need to move on. Greedy Indian owners and the Gallagher saga showed issues in negotiations. Also no other clubs in for him and after Rovers signed four players in 24 hours and eventually sold Gallagher that was it for me.COYB and so pleased we have reached the promised land in my lifetime again. Well done to McKenna and crew.
6

bringmeaKuqi added 20:31 - Aug 8 Would love to see a double swoop for Clarke and Rigg, though the latter wouldn't be ready for the prem yet. Or Clarke and Bellingham. James I'm keen for. There are so many other players with buckets more potential (but will cost buckets more cash)
0

Bluemike31 added 20:33 - Aug 8 I think by hanging on and dragging this on without withdrawing our offer we've actually let ourselves down a bit credibility wise
-1

dirtydingusmagee added 20:42 - Aug 8 Arnie they wont have won they will have player that dosnt want to be there.
10

WhoisJimmyJuan added 20:53 - Aug 8 And DirtyD: how will his team mates feel? It won't just affect SS of course. Is Waggot stirring here or just trying to tell the fans that if SS goes, don't blame me? Or both?
3

Karlosfandangal added 21:15 - Aug 8 Time is ticking for you too Blackburn if you want to strengthen your squad £8 million might help you stay up and Szmodics will be worth half that in the Jan Tranfer window
5

Tractorcookie added 21:20 - Aug 8 I don’t get some clubs - Blackburn are clearly one of them- when they name a price and we meet it why not just get the deal done?! Normally we would have moved on by now so I wonder if something else is afoot…?
1

TimmyH added 21:27 - Aug 8 I'm losing the will to live over this...
2

htb added 21:58 - Aug 8 If they don’t ant to sell at any reasonable price fair enough. We should tell them that is our last offer and if they don’t accept it in the next 24 hours the offer is withdrawn.
1

churchmans added 22:03 - Aug 8 ARNIE M Blackburn just want more money! There holding out for it! I really hope we stick to our guns with 6or8mill and like someone already said give them a deadline until Sunday or walk away
5

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