Sammie Szmodics transfer latest: Sunderland claim, Celtic blow, Alan Shearer message
FLW takes a look at the latest transfer news surrounding Blackburn Rovers’ Sammie Szmodics
It’s been a remarkable 2023/24 campaign for Blackburn Rovers’ attacking midfielder Sammie Szmodics.
The 28-year-old is the Championship’s top scorer after finding the back of the net 24 times in 41 appearances, an incredible feat when you consider that he’s not a striker, and he’s playing for a side who are 17th in the Championship table.
| Championship top scorers – BBC Sport (17/04/2024) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | P | G | A | |
| 1. | Sammie Szmodics (Blackburn Rovers) | 41 | 24 | 4 |
| 2. | Adam Armstrong (Southampton) | 42 | 20 | 13 |
| 3. | Morgan Whittaker (Plymouth Argyle) | 43 | 19 | 8 |
| 4. | Crysencio Summerville (Leeds United) | 40 | 17 | 8 |
| 5. | Haji Wright (Coventry City) | 40 | 15 | 6 |
The Republic of Ireland international was also one of three players nominated for the Championship Player of the Year award, but lost out to Leeds man Crysencio Summerville.
Despite missing out on the award, Szmodics has been a standout player in the Championship this season, and is very likely to attract transfer interest this summer.
With that in mind, here is the latest Sammie Szmodics transfer news…
Don Goodman makes Sammie Szmodics transfer prediction
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman believes the only way that Sammie Szmodics will play Premier League football is by joining a Championship club that wins promotion to the top-flight.
With a contract at Ewood Park until the summer of 2026 and being 28-years-old, Goodman believes that a club like Sunderland should sign him, and that winning promotion with someone like the Black Cats is his best bet of playing in the Premier League.
Speaking to The Chronicle, Goodman said: “Do I think Sammie Szmodics would be a good addition for Sunderland? Yes. But based on their recruitment strategy of signing younger players they just wouldn’t go for him.
“Sammie’s got to keep on working hard and he may get an opportunity to move to a club that has an Chance to play in the Premier League, fair play to Blackburn. He could only make it to the Premier League by being promoted with a team similar to Sunderland.
As a player, he has a huge jump up front of him. I wouldn’t say he can’t make the step up, but based on his career to far, I’d say he’s at the top and a Premier League team won’t pursue him.
“It’s not a jab at him; the same goes for a ton of other players in the Championship.”
Szmodics will think he can perform better at Rovers than in Sunderland given his play this season, especially after his team crushed the Black Cats 5-1 at the Stadium of Light on Easter Monday.
Top clubs set to battle it out for Sammie Szmodics, Celtic dealt blow
It’s been reported in recent months that the likes of Celtic, Brentford, and Fulham are all interested in a move for the best scorer in the Championship this summer.
Blackburn would need to receive a competitive offer from a club interested in signing the Irish international because he only has two years left on his contract at Ewood Park. However, considering the wealth of Premier League teams, they might make Rovers an alluring offer.
Nevertheless, Celtic’s attempt to recruit Szmodics appears to have failed, as Football Insider has revealed that the club will be unable to match English teams in terms of salary and transfer prices. The Hoops are expected to be outbid in their pursuit of Szmodics.
Alan Shearer sends message to Sammie Szmodics
Sammie Szmodics received a telegram from Alan Shearer, the winning striker of Blackburn Rovers, congratulating him for becoming the first Blackburn player to record 30 goals in a season since Shearer did so in the 1995–96 campaign.
After scoring six goals in three FA Cup outings this season, Szmodics’ winning goal against Leeds on Saturday was his 24th goal in the Championship and his 30th goal overall.
“30, yeah, not bad, Congratulations, mate,” exclaims the renowned striker in a video that has been uploaded to Blackburn’s social media platforms. Continue your fantastic work.”
It was a nice touch from Shearer, and with three games remaining, Szmodics will be looking to add to his tally of 30.
