Blackburn Rovers manager John Eustace confesses he is disappointed that talks with Ipswich Town over the probable sale of Sammie Szmodics are dragging on.
The two clubs have been in talks since the Blues had an initial bid of roughly £6 million rejected over three weeks ago.
Szmodics scored an outstanding 27 goals for Rovers previous season, helping them finish 19th in the Championship table and earning a place in the Republic of Ireland squad.
Kieran McKenna, the Blues’ manager, wants to boost an attacking team that appears to be sparse ahead of their move to the Premier League. Nathan Broadhead and George Hirst have pre-season injuries, and a deal for Hull’s Jaden Philogene fell through.
Blackburn’s season begins on Friday night with a visit from Derby County, while Ipswich opens with a home game against Liverpool the following weekend.
“It’s critical that we resolve this with Sammie, one way or the other,” Eustace told the Lancashire Telegraph.
“We want him to stay with the football club because he’s an excellent player. He is one of the top players in the Championship, and if we can keep him, it will be fantastic.
“It is critical that we resolve his future as soon as possible because it is unfair to both the player and the organization.
“I am astonished nothing has been done. It’s frustrating, but we’ve got to figure it out one way or another.
“It has been disruptive, but it is out of my control; I can’t do anything about it. We get on with it; we have a great squad of players who can step in and fill different places as needed. There are no difficulties.”
On whether Szmodics will play in his side’s Championship opener on Friday night, Eustace said: “Sammie is short on match fitness; he hasn’t played any of the pre-season games really.
“He hasn’t been training with the group as much as he’d like due to a variety of circumstances. He is not match fit.
“We will have to wait and see. What I will say is that he is an excellent professional who, when called upon, will be fully dedicated and prepared to go.
“Sam is a top-tier player at this level. Would we like him in the starting lineup? Of course we would. That is something that could happen eventually.
“He hasn’t trained or played for the past three or four weeks. We need to protect the lad as well.
“(Could he be involved?). Perhaps we’ll have to wait and see.
“Yes (I would like to draw a line in the sand), but it is out of my control. That is up to the club; they are talking and are in charge of the finances. “My job is to coach the team.”
