£20m player told he should join Leeds United this summer but ‘Elland Road sources’ have made stance clear

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A player linked with Leeds United has been told to pick a move to Elland Road over Ipswich Town this summer.

The two clubs are said to be battling it out but it is likely to be the Tractor Boys who have the upper hand after pipping Leeds to promotion last season.

Ipswich have already flexed their Premier League finance on numerous occasions already during the window, spending big on the likes of Liam Delap and Jacob Greaves.

And their spending spree is unlikely to stop there as they target the cream of the crop in the Championship, battling against Leeds for one of them.

Due to PSR constraints, Leeds certainly have to be more careful regarding the money they spend, though have spent a combined £15 million on Joe Rodon and Jayden Bogle.

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Darragh MacAnthony urges Sammie Szmodics to join Leeds

Reports emerged from talkSPORT on Tuesday that Leeds had officially ‘formalised’ their interest in Blackburn Rovers attacker Sammie Szmodics.

This came after Ipswich had seen a £6 million offer rejected and both clubs have reportedly been set a deadline of the end of the month in which they can sign him.

Leeds’ interest should come as little surprise to anyone given how highly he is rated by Daniel Farke, though as per the Sun, Blackburn have set a £20 million price tag.

For a player of his age and resale value, that would not represent good business for Leeds, even if his goal tally of 27 last season speaks for itself.

Amid interest from Leeds and Ipswich, Peterborough United owner Darragh MacAnthony says Szmodics should pick a move to Elland Road of the two despite the lure of Premier League football.

Via talkSPORT, he said: “I think because of the location and the geography, he is a real family guy, his wife and a couple of young kids, that’s a tough one. But then again, it’s Leeds. I know Ipswich are in the Premier League, but this is Leeds. You always have to say Leeds are Leeds.”

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Leeds stance has already been made clear

Despite reports from national media outlets indicating Leeds’ interest, Leeds Live has actually suggested it is not the case.

It is said ‘Elland Road sources’ believe Leeds are being used as leverage to try and encourage Ipswich to make a higher offer, given how far their initial bid fell short.

Given MacAnthony’s appearance on talkSPORT on Tuesday, in which news of a Leeds bid for Harrison Burrows emerged and was then quickly shut down, it would not be a surprise if it was him.

As per the Peterborough Evening Telegraph, Posh are believed to have a sell-on clause in the deal for Szmodics and it was talkSPORT who first reported of Leeds’ interest being formalised while MacAnthony was live on air.