Sammie Szmodics set for the Premier League as Ipswich move nears

Republic of Ireland striker Sammie Szmodics looks set to be a Premier League player with Ipswich Town agreeing a fee with his club Blackburn Rovers, according to reports.

The Tractor Boys have long held an interest in last season's top scorer in the English Championship, with 27 goals in 44 league games, and are willing to pay approximately €12m for his services having acquired Man City’s Kalvin Phillips on loan on Thursday.

Fermanagh man Kieran McKenna will be hoping his side make the perfect start to life back in the top flight when they host Liverpool early on Saturday afternoon.

The Suffolk outfit last played in the Premier League in 2002, and they'll enter the campaign with a new minority stakeholder in singer Ed Sheeran.

Sheeran is a lifelong fan of the Tractor Boys and has been shirt sponsor for the men's and women’s teams since 2021.

The 33-year-old’s total stake in the Premier League club, acquired through Gamechanger 20 Ltd, is 1.4%.

As part of the agreement, Sheeran will have long-term use of an executive box at Portman Road, which he has personalised ahead of the 2024-25 season.

He will not be a voting shareholder or a board member.

"I am really excited to have bought a small percentage of my hometown football club," Yorkshire-born Sheeran told Ipswich’s website.

"It’s any football fan’s dream to be an owner of the club they support, and I feel so grateful for this opportunity."

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