The Whites, however, will have to battle Ipswich Town who are also interested in Szmodic’s signature.

Nixon wrote: “Rovers fear the loss of top scorer Sammie Szmodics but if they sell him they plan to invest in the Belgian-based hit man.

“Ipswich and Leeds have been told that Szmodics has to be sold by Wednesday or he will stay.”

And, with Szmodics scoring 27 goals last season, it’s clear why the Tractor Boys are eager to bring him on board.

Leeds have also shown interest in Szmodics, but Ipswich’s bid might price them out of the running. Szmodics, at 28, knows this could be his best chance to play in the Premier League, and Blackburn seem ready to negotiate, aiming to finalise his future this week.

For Blackburn, the challenge will be replacing such a key player. They survived the Championship last season largely due to Szmodics’ efforts. If they sell, the funds need to be reinvested wisely to ensure the team’s stability.

When it comes to Leeds, however, they must act quickly and decisively if they want to secure Szmodics, but they are up against serious competition and financial constraints.