Ipswich Town are just £500,000 short of meeting Blackburn Rovers’ valuation for Sammie Szmodics, a gap that has become a significant obstacle in finalizing the deal.
According to Alan Nixon, Ipswich is reluctant to increase their offer, which is hindering progress in negotiations. Despite their recent promotion to the Premier League, Ipswich is being cautious with their spending.
They have already secured several key signings, including Omari Hutchinson, Ben Johnson, Jacob Greaves, Liam Delap, Aro Muric, and Conor Townsend.
Although Ipswich has invested heavily in players like Hutchinson, Greaves, and Delap, they may be hesitant to spend more, even though they could benefit from additional firepower in attack.
Szmodics, who scored over 30 goals during the 2023/24 season, could be the solution they need. He has also started the 2024/25 season strongly, scoring in Blackburn’s opening match against Derby County after coming off the bench.
However, Szmodics’ future remains uncertain, and this uncertainty may affect his performance. Ipswich is reportedly offering an £8.5m package to bring him to Portman Road, but Blackburn is holding firm at £9m.
With Szmodics still having two years left on his contract and the option to extend for another year, Blackburn is in a strong position in these negotiations.
Ipswich’s proposed package includes various bonuses, such as survival bonuses, goal-related incentives, and even promotion bonuses if the team is relegated and then returns to the Premier League.
Despite these incentives, the negotiations have reached an impasse, frustrating all parties involved, including Szmodics, who seeks clarity on his future.
For Blackburn, allowing this situation to drag on could be detrimental, but they are justified in maintaining their stance. Given Szmodics’ impressive goal-scoring record, Blackburn might have even considered asking for more than £9m.
If Ipswich refuses to meet their demands, it might not be the worst outcome for Blackburn, as Szmodics could still command a similar fee in the next transfer window.
Nevertheless, Ipswich should seriously consider meeting Blackburn’s asking price to secure a player who could significantly bolster their attacking options in the Premier League.
