Blackburn Rovers fans may have resigned themselves to losing Sam Szmodics this summer but the transfer equation might be trickier than it seems.

The Championship's golden boot holder plundered in 33 goals last summer to put him firmly on the radar of every club needing a goal-scorer.

Rovers are in a strong position when it comes to Szmodics' future. He is contracted until 2026, with a further one-year option. That puts them in complete control.

Szmodics was clear and honest in his view about his Rovers future. It came as little surprise to anyone that, if a Premier League club comes knocking, he'd like the chance to explore that opportunity.

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If not, he is happy at Rovers, having spoken many times about his affection and gratitude to the club for giving him another opportunity in the Championship.

There will be admirers this summer. The Lancashire Telegraph understands reports about interest from Galatasaray is accurate, with the Turkish club having scouted Szmodics last season.

Sheffield United are the other English club to have been linked, though that would be subject to a prospective takeover of the club. Other top-flight teams that need a forward have been touted but there is nothing concrete at this stage.

Turkey would represent an interesting option for Szmodics. The opportunity to play in the Champions League would be very hard to resist. But he has a young family and his 'dream', in his own words, is to play in the Premier League.

The question is, will a top-flight side fulfil their part of the bargain? I am not so sure it is a foregone conclusion.

Szmodics was unbelievable last season, it is impossible to underplay his importance to Blackburn Rovers. Without him, they would be playing in League One.

To score so many goals and to spread them over the course of the season shows a brilliant level of consistency. But one that he hasn't previously demonstrated.

This was Szmodics' highest-scoring season at any level since 2020/21, where he scored 15 goals for Peterborough United in League One.

At Championship level, he had not scored more than six goals previously. His debut campaign at Rovers brought about five. He's always been a player capable of scoring goals but not at the volume he produced.

At 28, Szmodics has less resale value than Adam Wharton, for example. So any team signing him needs him to acclimatise quickly, which I'm sure he'd back himself to do.

There will be question marks for any recruiting club as to whether he can replicate that form again. Middlesbrough had a very similar situation with Chuba Akpom 12 months ago where he suddenly, aged 27, scored 28 league goals from nowhere. 

Ajax took a punt but the Premier League clubs were never quite convinced. The question is, will a Premier League team take a gamble on Szmodics? 

It would not be unreasonable for Rovers to start with a £15million asking price, given their reluctance to sell their best asset. 

That would price out most Championship clubs, even if Szmodics wasn't holding out for the Premier League. Looking at this purely from an objective standpoint, there is not a huge pool of clubs that fit the criteria.

Leicester City have financial issues, Southampton don't usually play with a 10. Ipswich Town could be viable, as would a Brentford or perhaps Nottingham Forest if Morgan Gibbs-White was sold.

So whilst Szmodics might attract plenty of interest, it will be interesting to see who, if anyone, bites the bullet. I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that he leaves Ewood Park.