Ipswich Town have rejected a bid from Derby County for forward Sammie Szmodics, the EADT and Ipswich Star understands.
Rams boss John Eustace is keen to be reunited with a player he managed at former club Blackburn Rovers.
It’s understood that the Blues would consider selling the 30-year-old, following the recent addition of versatile attacker Anis Mehmeti, but that the current offer falls well short of their valuation of a player who is contracted until 2029.
After claiming the Championship Golden Boot with a 27-goal season for Blackburn in 2023/24, Szmodics joined newly-promoted Town in a £9m deal during the summer of 2024.
He went on to score Premier League goals at Man City, Tottenham, Brentford and Fulham before enduring an injury-hit 2025. The former Colchester and Bristol City man recently scored his first Town goal at Portman Road, in a 3-0 home win against Blackburn, and started last weekend’s 3-1 defeat at Sheffield United.
The recent £3.5m addition of Mehmeti from Bristol City gives Ipswich further depth in the No.10 role though. Marcelino Nunez (currently injured) is the first choice option, with Chuba Akpom, Sindre Walle Egeli and Jack Clarke all having been handed minutes in that position too.
It’s understood that the Blues are keen to add a striker before Monday’s 7pm deadline, with Joël Piroe (Leeds) and Sam Surridge (Nashville) among those being considered.
TOWN’S 11-MAN ATTACKING UNIT
Sindre Walle Egeli, Wes Burns, Kasey McAteer, Marcelino Nunez (injured), Sammie Szmodics, Chuba Akpom (injured), Jaden Philogene (injured), Jack Clarke, Anis Mehmeti, George Hirst, Ivan Azon.
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