Ipswich are haggling over a deal for Blackburn Rovers striker Sammie Szmodics – and are bizarrely just £500,000 apart.

The clubs have been debating the guaranteed sum starting point and Ipswich are at £8.5 million but won’t budge to the £9 million demanded.

The package for Szmodics includes extras for goals bonuses, a survival bonus and even a promotion bonus if Ipswich go down and then come back up in 2025-26.

However the negotiators cannot sort out the first sum to the frustration of all parties and the player.

Blackburn Rovers’s Icelandic cap Arnor Sigurdsson is fancied by Greek side PAOK Salonika.

PAOK are expected to make an offer but they are looking at a loan deal which is not ideal.

QPR are also interested in Sigurdsson but he is only among a list of possibles for them.

Rovers could let Sigurdsson go as it creates a vacancy for one more foreign signing in their squad.

Blackburn have lined up Japanese forward Ryo Germain but they do not have a space for him as a ‘non work permit’ player unless one leaves.

Meanwhile home-grown Buckley could also go after being loaned to Sheffield Wednesday last season. They would prefer a sale.

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Derby County may need to rethink transfer priority as one thing becomes clear in Blackburn loss

Derby County will certainly be looking to add to their ranks following their open day defeat.

The Rams were always going to make extra additions throughout August, with Paul Warne making it abruptly clear that he is looking to add strikers and a goalkeeper or two to his squad before the transfer window slams shut.

However, Derby County’s 4-2 loss away at Ewood Park highlighted several issues in the squad and the fact that signings will definitely be needed this month in order to bolster Warne’s sides chances of survival.

Eiran Cashin, for example, surprisingly gave an unsatisfactory performance against Blackburn Rovers in a game where the Rams shipped four goals, and there will undoubtedly be questions asked about the central-defence.

The attacking-output of Derby County also further highlighted the necessity of more firepower up top, which has since led to Warne targeting Luton Town striker Cauley Woodrow.

However, there is another position lacking depth that must be filled following Derby County’s opening day loss.

Paul Warne must target a left-back after Derby County loss
Derby County’s Callum Elder started at left-back for the Rams unsurprisingly, with there being very few options that could slot into that position.