They should name a Stand after him, for this season.
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Another late on brings him to 27 league goals for the season. Ties Daryl Murphy's record from nine years ago as the most goals by an Irish player since the first division became the Championship (the 131 Irish Championship goals this season is the most for 15 years also).
Szmodics pretty much kept Blackburn up by himself and fully deserves the Premier League move that is likely to come his way this summer.
A phenomenal season - pity in a way we missed out on a lot of it given the will he/won't he stuff that inevitably went around. 27 of Blackburn's 60 league goals this season - almost half the tally. They stayed up by three points - had they lost away to the new champions today instead of winning 2-0 they'd have gone down.
Just realising now how big a gap there is between the end of the season and the June friendlies. With the talk of some players not wanting to turn up (don't know whether that has substance or not) you really hope Szmodics will be involved up front and centre in those games. Be great to fully integrate him into the line-up - has to be our best attacking option these days. Someone who can score bucketloads in a crap team has to be a godsend for us!
He looks like a guy straight out of school but Harry Watkinsons who writes for Team Talk and Football 365 is linking Everton and Galatasaray with Szmodics.
Says Everton and other PL clubs could miss out on Szmodics as Galatasaray are ready to submit a £12m bid for the player.
As a general rule it's not a good idea for professional footballers in this part of the world to go to Turkey. Given Szmodics current rating and potential earning power in the Premier League he'd be absolutely mad to even consider it.
You'd imagine it'd be a bit too big a jump given his family situation too.
Everton could be good unless FFP gets at them again. Seán Dyche doing good work there.
Solid start to pre-season though if those two are already interested (and it's all tabloid gossip for now I presume)
Reports linking Szmodics with a move to Ipswich. Both clubs are in talks according to reports.
Leeds Utd in the hunt too, according to the Yorkshire Post today.
Big risk for Sammie is that he'll be a one-season wonder.
So a goal on opening day is a doubly nice start to the season!
Piece about Ipswich in the Times by Rowan today. Seems like he visited Portman Road and got some words from Matt Holland and Alan Lee. Some from Kieran McKenna too but not sure if they are directly sourced.
Then Szmodics deal seems to be rumbling on after a few of £8m + £2m was agreed but Blackburn are seeking more.
Not sure why they are seeking more. Maybe another club came in. However, the article points out that Szmodics home town of Colchester is close to Ipswich. Had a look. It appears it's only 20 miles. He must be incredibly keen on this move himself, assuming that is a big factor. So, even if a Galatasaray or someone came in with more than Ipswich it wouldn't appear that he would want to give up on Premiership football close to him.
Mention of Marcus Harness impressing on pre season and being hopeful of an Irish cap if he can get games for Ipswich at the top level. Article states his mother is from Crosshaven in Cork.
The names of Jack Taylor and Liam Delap are mentioned too. As well as Leon Ayinde who has played in pre season but at 19 is one for the future.
Second and third of the season tonight, and it's only half time in the League Cup so far. Blackburn 4-0 up away to Stockport.
Sammie Szmodics banged in two more so far tonight for Blackburn
Agreement in principle with Ipswich being reported this evening….
Move confirmed. Registered in time for the Liverpool game tomorrow.
https://www.itfc.co.uk/news/2024/aug...ics-is-a-blue/