"A shame" - Wes Brown reacts as Fulham and Brentford eye Blackburn Rovers star | OneFootball

Blackburn Rovers have had a difficult season so far, but it could have been much worse without the outstanding individual achievements of Sammie Szmodics.

The 28-year-old enjoyed a decent first season for Rovers after his arrival from Peterborough United, but he has gone up a level this time around, as he has hit 21 goals for Blackburn as they battle to stay in the Championship.

Not only has Szmodics shown a clinical edge in front of goal, but he is a constant threat with his ability on the ball and his movement stretching play for Blackburn, who are set up to get the most out of him and find him in dangerous positions in the final third as frequently as possible.

He remains the top scorer in the league as it enters a season-defining period during the run-in, where his and Blackburn's fate will be decided very soon.

It's fair to say that without his goals, 21 of which have come in the league this season, Blackburn could've found themselves in even greater danger under the guidance of Jon Dahl Tomasson and his successor, John Eustace.

Unsurprisingly, such form has caught the eye, and it has been claimed that Fulham are the latest club to show an interest in the forward, with Luton Town and Brentford previously thought to be monitoring Szmodics, with it being reported by Alan Nixon that the latter are long-term admirers of the player.

Wes Brown discusses Sammie Szmodics' Blackburn Rovers future

Wes Brown is most well known in English football for his 14-year spell at Manchester United, but he also spent a season with Blackburn in the 2016/17 campaign, making six appearances in that time.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World via instantcasinos.com about the situation regarding Szmodics and his future at Ewood Park, Brown said: "Listen, it's a shame for Blackburn, but this is what happens when someone excels.

"The player excels and bigger clubs are going to come in, simple as that.

"If that's the case and he does get sold, it's obviously not ideal for Blackburn but you just hope that they get the best money in for him at the time. "That's how football works, isn't it? He's done really well, but, like you say, he's 28 now, and he'd love to go to the Premier League.

"That's got to be his ambition. It's not to say he doesn't love Blackburn or anything, but you could easily see that happening this summer."

Sammie Szmodics' Premier League ambition

There are countless examples of sides relying on their key attacker to dig them out of a relegation battle in the Championship, and if Szmodics does that this season, then he will forever be remembered fondly at Blackburn.

However, it does appear as though he is playing his final games for the club now and that he will hope to be playing top-flight football next season. Every player will have that ambition, but it will come down to a question of timing and talent.

At 28, he doesn't have long left to achieve that goal, highlighting that now is the time to make the step up and for Blackburn to cash-in, but they will hope he can maintain their second tier status for next season in the meantime.