Blackburn Rovers: Sammie Szmodics must be tempted by European move following £12m reveal

Off the back of Championship Golden Boot winner Sammie Szmodics’ stellar season, the Blackburn Rovers star has multiple clubs vying for his signature.

The 28-year-old played a leading role in Blackburn’s successful survival effort and has attracted interest from one of Europe’s biggest teams.

Hoping to increase the number of quality creative players at their disposal, Galatasaray have launched a £12 million bid for the attacking midfielder. Enticed by the prospect of Champions League football, Szmodics may push for an exit from Ewood Park.

However, Blackburn might be inclined to turn down the advances of the Super Lig Champions as Galatasaray’s offer falls short of Rovers’ £15–20 million asking price.

The Lancashire outfit is set to decide the future of their most valuable asset. Szmodics has been consistently linked with a move to the Premier League, but Blackburn’s number eight may consider the allure of European football too hard to ignore.

Blackburn may even have to lower their valuation to strike a deal and allow their star man to graduate from the Championship to the Champions League.

Szmodics could star at Galatasaray

This season, Szmodics has proven his worth in extremely challenging conditions. The Republic of Ireland international has excelled despite his team’s poor form.

Remarkably, the former Peterborough United man was directly involved in 31 of his side’s 60 Championship goals this term.

At times, Szmodics has had to feed off scraps and shoulder the club’s goal-scoring burden, despite a lack of support and service from his attacking teammates.

His effectiveness in a struggling side stands him in good stead for a move to a top team like Galatasaray. With an ageing Dries Mertens currently fulfilling the attacking midfield role at the club, Szmodics would be a direct replacement for the Belgian and would slot right into his preferred position.

One of the key concerns the player may have about a prospective move to the 24-time Turkish Champions would surround playing time. At Galatasaray, with Mertens out of contract this summer, Szmodics could seamlessly fit into the team and have assurances around his position as a starter.

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With minutes on the pitch guaranteed, in a side far superior to many of their league rivals, the hard-working attacker could star in Istanbul and accumulate goals quickly.

While he has been especially effective operating under the cosh, the clinical goalscorer has the technical ability to seamlessly fit into a high-possession team expected to dominate their opponents. If Szmodics is to make the move to Turkey, he could enjoy his most lucrative season to date.

Factoring in Galatasaray’s automatic qualification for the Champions League, the opportunity to play for one of the world’s most established, well-supported, and successful clubs on the greatest stage could be hard to resist.

Blackburn should sell while Szmodics’ stock is high

If Blackburn were to hold onto their star man for another season, in the face of interest from numerous willing buyers, they would lose out on a sizable transfer fee and a major source of funding for the future.

Fending off interest in Szmodics would be extremely risky. If Blackburn’s chief attacking threat is to remain at Ewood Park for another season and repeat his form, the onus would be on the club’s hierarchy to support a push for promotion.

Significant improvement from the last campaign will be impossible without substantial investment in the playing squad, though, whilst there are no guarantees that Szmodics can repeat his 23/24 form.

With just two years left on his Rovers contract, Blackburn would struggle to justify building a team around a player likely to leave shortly.

Instead, the Lancashire outfit must capitalise on Szmodics’ rising stock, sell the player for a sizeable fee, and use the funds to build a team to compete at the right end of the Championship next campaign.

Now is the time for Blackburn to think sustainably, move Szmodics on, and take an astute approach in the upcoming transfer window. The club should allow their player to step up in class and welcome the money brought in by his sale.

It’s an attractive transfer for all parties.