Leeds United told to sign Sammie Szmodics to guarantee promotion - EFL chairman
Sammie Szmodics would "guarantee" promotion for Leeds United if they sign him this summer, according to Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony.
Speaking to Peterborough's official website (17 July), MacAnthony said that given the Whites could lose some of their top players this summer, signing last season's top scorer would be an ideal move to make.
Szmodics was a Peterborough player before being sold to Blackburn Rovers in 2022, and MacAnthony confirmed on X that Peterborough have a sell-on clause for the forward who scored 27 goals last season.
When asked who the Peacocks should sign, he said: “Sammie, if I was at Leeds United, because they are going to lose some talent.
"Doing what they have to do – he is pretty much guaranteeing you promotion, because you’re buying the golden boot winner.
"That’s my tip Leeds fans, you should be buying Sammie Szmodics. Sorry Blackburn fans.”
Would Sammie Szmodics transfer seal promotion for Leeds United?
MacAnthony's claims that signing Szmodics would "guarantee" the Whites' promotion next season is some statement, given he'd likely have a different role to the one he currently excels in for Blackburn.
The Championship's top scorer by three goals – and seven ahead of United's top scorer Crysencio Summerville – one of Szmodics' 27 came at Elland Road in the fourth-last match of the season.
That 1-0 defeat helped to delay the Peacocks' promotion bid, consigning them to an unsuccessful play-off campaign, but scoring a similar number in white next season would certainly make Szmodics popular.
Daniel Farke's current system leaves questions over how exactly a player of Szmodics' profile would operate, but headline departures of players like Summerville would create the perfect opening for him.
Summerville leaving the club this summer could free up a space out wide for someone like Georginio Rutter to fill, and with a transfer to Chelsea looking likely for the Dutchman, this could well come to pass [TEAMtalk, 17 July].
Bringing in Szmodics as a replacement to occupy the number 10 position is a glorious opportunity for player and club alike, and the Irish international might just be the man to fire the Whites to promotion.
In other Leeds United news, a claim has emerged over a new Elland Road transfer as the Whites eye a move to sign an international defender.
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