Leeds told the date when they must have Sammie Szmodics signed by as Ipswich bid just £6m

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Sammie Szmodics has emerged as a transfer target for Leeds United this summer as The Whites look to bolster their push for a place in the Premier League, and they have been given a deadline.

Szmodics of course, won The Championship’s golden boot last season with 27 goals in England’s second tier and 33 in all competitions. That is despite playing as both a no.10 for Rovers, as well as a striker.

Blackburn are open to his sale and a fee of £20m is required, with Leeds and Ipswich said to be the front runners to sign Szmodics. But it remains to be seen if Leeds or indeed Ipswich are willing to pay that fee.

Szmodics has already earned admiring glances from Daniel Farke during the 2023-24 campaign. The Yorkshire side are well-stocked up top, but neither Joel Piroe or Patrick Bamford enjoyed great seasons.

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Blackburn set Leeds and Ipswich a Szmodics deadline for move

So, Leeds and Ipswich are front runners to sign the Ireland star and according to The Sun’s Alan Nixon on his Patreon channel, the two sides have been set a deadline by Blackburn to sign Szmodics this summer.

Nixon says both clubs have been informed that bids and a signing must be made by the end of July, or a deal is off. That is because Blackburn want a replacement before the start of the Championship season.

The reporter also says that Ipswich have bid just £6m in their first attempt to sign Szmodics but the chances are that Kieran McKenna’s side will return with a new offer for the versatile forward in due course.

Szmodics interest is bad news for two of four Leeds’ strikers

Leeds currently have four options up top in Bamford, PIroe, Mateo Joseph and Joe Gelhardt. Joseph is seen as the jewel in the crown and started against Harrogate Town in last Friday’s first pre-season friendly.

Bamford continues to struggle with injury and is undergoing a slower routine than the rest of the squad this summer. Piroe looked poor again at Harrogate and is far away from the player shining at Swansea.

Gelhardt is likely to be allowed to leave if a decent offer comes in, or the chance to join a Championship club on loan. Surely, Gelhardt and one of either Bamford or Piroe will go if Leeds do sign Szmodics.