Derby County are looking to reinforce their attacking options ahead of the January transfer window closing next week, with the Rams eager to add creativity and firepower to their frontline.
Their reported interest in Sammie Szmodics, a familiar face from John Eustace’s Blackburn Rovers days, has so far been rebuffed, but the deal is far from dead.
Ipswich Town have rejected a bid from Derby County for the 30-year-old forward, the East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Star understand.
Rams boss John Eustace is reportedly keen to reunite with Sammie Szmodics, who was the Championship’s leading scorer in the 2023/24 season with 33 goals in all competitions while under his management at Blackburn.
A move would require Derby to stretch their finances to secure Szmodics’ signature, with talks expected to continue in the coming days ahead of the window closing next week.
DerbyshireLive reports that Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna is also pursuing a move for former Nottingham Forest striker Sam Surridge, but Derby remain determined to explore the Szmodics option.
Szmodics joined Ipswich Town from Blackburn in the summer of 2024 for a reported £9 million following his Championship Golden Boot-winning season.
He has played 18 games this season, scoring his first goal for Town in a 3-0 home win over Blackburn and starting in last weekend’s 3-1 defeat at Sheffield United.
Previously, Szmodics scored Premier League goals against Manchester City, Tottenham, Brentford, and Fulham before an injury-hit 2025 curtailed his progress.
Despite a mixed campaign at Ipswich, he remains under contract at Portman Road until 2029.
Ipswich recently strengthened their No.10 role with the £3.5 million signing of Anis Mehmeti from Bristol City. Marcelino Nunez, currently injured, remains first-choice, while Chuba Akpom, Sindre Walle Egeli, and Jack Clarke have also featured in the position this season.
Midfielder Dan Neil became the club’s second January addition, joining on loan from Sunderland.
The Tractor Boys are understood to be open to selling Szmodics, but only if their valuation is met, and they are actively pursuing a striker before Monday’s 7pm transfer deadline, with Joël Piroe (Leeds United) and Sam Surridge (Nashville SC) among the targets.
Derby are seeking to bolster their attack ahead of the window closing, having already freed up squad space with four players departing this month.
Last night, Corey Blackett-Taylor left on loan to Bolton Wanderers, making room for incoming reinforcements.
Sammie Szmodics is a versatile forward who can play as a No.10, on the left wing, or as a centre-forward, giving Eustace multiple tactical options.
He would compete with Ben Brereton Diaz, Patrick Agyemang, Bobby Clark, Rhian Brewster, Carlton Morris, Andreas Weimann, and Lars-Jorgen Salvesen, though he is expected to slot in just behind the main striker.
Szmodics enjoyed an exceptionally good relationship with Eustace at Blackburn, previously describing him as “unbelievable” for how he handled his departure to Portman Road.
Eustace will be hoping he can rediscover the form he showed under him, bolstering Derby’s push for a top-six finish this season.
Following a summer overhaul that brought in 13 new additions, Derby started the season aiming for a top-six finish, with Eustace reshaping the squad after narrowly avoiding relegation last campaign.
The Rams currently sit just two points off the play-off places, in a tightly contested race for promotion.
