Dom Matteo issues Blackburn transfer prediction as Luton, Fulham and Celtic circle | OneFootball

Sammie Szmodics has enjoyed a breakout season for Blackburn Rovers in which he has scored 23 league goals and is the EFL Championship top scorer.

He has scored more goals than the likes of Patson Daka, Joël Piroe, Georginio Rutter, Kelechi Iheanacho, and more.

After just missing out on play-off football by goal difference last term under Jon Dahl Tomasson, Rovers have slumped to 16th place and are just four points above the drop zone this season.

The Danish manager left by mutual consent in February after a frustrating winter transfer window to be replaced by former Birmingham City manager John Eustace.

What makes Szmodics' season all the more impressive is the talent that has left the Ewood Park dressing room since last season.

Ben Brereton Díaz, Bradley Dack, Ashley Phillips, and Thomas Kaminski all departed in the summer transfer window, and they were followed out the door in February by highly regarded young midfielder Adam Wharton.

Irish international Szmodics has filled the void left by talismanic attacker Ben Brereton Díaz excellently, already bettering the Chilean international's 14 goals and matching his four assists in the 2022/23 Championship season.

The attacking midfielder has won many admirers this season, with Fulham, Luton, and Celtic all linked with transfer moves for the 28-year-old, according to the Sun and Scottish Sun.

Dom Matteo offers his opinion on a potential Szmodics departure

Former Liverpool, Leeds United and Blackburn Rovers defender Dom Matteo has urged Rovers manager John Eustace to keep his star man at the club.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, via William Hill, he said: "For John, he must be part of the process as I can see him working well with Szmodics in the short term to ensure he is on board with his plans for the club, to take Blackburn Rovers forward."

He later added: “He has taken the Championship by storm this year and I am sure John can see this to get him on board with his vision for the Club. It’s a tough one for John as Szmodics is in great form and to continue this for another season can only be better for the player and club alike.”

It is unlikely that Blackburn would accept a low offer for the Irish international owing to his contract situation.

Szmodics signed a contract extension in November 2023 which will keep him at Ewood Park until the end of the 2025-26 season, when he will be 30 years old.

Former Scotland international Dom Matteo thinks that Rovers could still be willing to sell their star player despite a potentially high asking price: "Should Blackburn feel that they receive the right fee for Szmodics then they will accept this and move on."

Matteo backs Eustace to bring in a suitable replacement should they let go of their top goalscorer: "Recruitment is key and John is a smart guy, so I am sure he will be already looking at players should Szmodics leave."

John Eustace has been unable to stop Blackburn Rovers's slump down the Championship table despite the 28-year-old's standout performances.

Szmodics looks to have outgrown the Rovers squad and should seek a challenge in a higher division, just like he did when leaving League One side Peterborough United for Blackburn in 2022.