'My dream' - £20m bagsman breaks silence on West Ham and Everton transfer links
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The Blackburn Rovers star blew away the Championship this year and has his eye on a Premier League transfer.
West Ham and Everton transfer target Sammie Szmodics has spoken out about his future at Blackburn Rovers after the end of the Championship season. The talisman was candid in expressing his interest in joining a Premier League club, admitting that Rovers wouldn't 'begrudge' the star a big summer move.
The Irishman plundered 33 goals in all competitions for Blackburn Rovers this season, in a campaign where the club narrowly avoided relegation with a 19th-place finish. Szmodics' stand-out year for the struggling club left many furious when he wasn't named Championship Player of the Year for the season - with Leeds United man Cyrenscio Summerville taking home the award.
With such an impressive showing, transfer links with Premier League sides were inevitable. A number of sources have linked West Ham with a move for the attacking midfielder.
The Hammers could be in the market to fill that position should Lucas Paqueta attract more transfer interest this summer and Szmodics is a West Ham fan himself, having previously held a season ticket at the London Stadium.
The Sun reports that West Ham face competition from Brentford and Luton Town to sign the player, who is being valued at between £15 and £20 million by Blackburn Rovers - a similar fee to that commanded for Adam Wharton when moving to Crystal Palace. Meanwhile, Everton are another club said to be courting the player.
Speaking to No Tippy Tappy Football, Szmodics admitted that a Premier League move would interest him and hoped the Championship club wouldn't stand in the way of that. He said: “Staying at Blackburn is a decision that’s out of my hands because I still have two and a half years left on my contract. I love playing for Blackburn, it’s a great football club, but obviously, when you score 33 goals in a season there’s going to be speculation.
“I don’t think anyone would begrudge me a move if a Premier League team came calling. It is my dream to play in the Premier League, I’m not saying that opportunity will definitely arise, but I don’t think people could blame me for wanting to go and play there.
“If a Premier League team came knocking then it would be stupid for me not to see what could happen. If I stay at Blackburn, then hopefully I can keep scoring goals next season. I’d love to stay at Blackburn because you want to be the main man, and I’ve loved having that role this season. I’ve kept Blackburn up and done a really good job, so if I’m still there next season, then happy days.
“It is everyone’s dream to play in the Premier League and although there’s nothing on the table right now, I’d be stupid to turn down an opportunity to go and play in the Premier League. I want to test myself at the highest level and there will probably never be a better opportunity for me to do that than now.”