Leeds United’s interest in Sammie Szmodics should come as no surprise based on Daniel Farke’s recent comments about the player.
The Whites are reportedly battling Premier League side Ipswich Town for the signature of the 28-year-old, who was the Championship’s top scorer in 2023/24.
Ipswich had been in advanced talks with Blackburn Rovers for Szmodics on Monday but new reports today have suggested Leeds have now ‘formalised their interest’.
Leeds have been scouring the market for attacking reinforcements in preparation for if one or both of Crysencio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto leave, as expected.
Their departures would leave a hole of 27 league goals from last season, a gap Szmodics would be able to fill given that was the exact tally he netted on his own, all be it from a different position.
What Farke said about Szmodics after Leeds vs Blackburn
Leeds know all to well of the threat that Szmodics can pose at this level following their meeting with Blackburn back in April.
At the time, Rovers were deep in relegation trouble and travelled to Elland Road to face a Leeds side unbeaten all season on home soil, and looking to move into the top two.
Leeds had 75 per cent possession and 19 shots that day but were unable to find a breakthrough, and were dealt the ultimate sucker punch on 82 minutes when Szmodics ran through on goal and dispatched past Illan Meslier.
Speaking via the Lancashire Telegraph after that game, Leeds manager Farke could not hide his admiration for Szmodics’ quality in front of goal, and so his interest should come as little surprise.
He said: “When you face a side like Blackburn with a player like Szmodics, he showed the quality which we didn’t show today and he needed just one chance to score. So many balls went through the box, but you also need to show the quality to put the ball in the net.
“If you don’t score you have so much more risk. There is also a danger there will be one moment for your opponent and they can score. It’s pretty disappointing and frustrating for us. We didn’t put the ball into the net. If you don’t score, you can’t win the game.”
Would Szmodics be worth it for Leeds?
According to the Sun, Blackburn are demanding £20 million this summer to sell their most prized asset.
Given their failure to win promotion, it would be a huge surprise if Leeds were to splash such a high fee on a single player, particularly one that is 28-years-old and has little resale value.
Of course, Smzodics would provide that cutting edge in the final third that Leeds perhaps lacked at times last season, but surely a cheaper and younger option is out there.
That said, due to his age, it would not be a surprise to see him prioritise a move to the Premier League anyway.
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