Derby County chasing Premier League deal as John Eustace targets reunion

Derby County are aiming to follow up their move for midfielder Filip Bilbija by re-signing Ipswich attacker Sam Szmodics.

Szmodics spent the second half of last season on loan at Pride Park where he scored three goals as Derby finished just outside the top six.

He returned to Portman Road at the end of the campaign with Ipswich having secured promotion back to the Premier League under Kieran McKenna who stepped down after leading them back to the top flight.

Gary O'Neil is now in charge, but it is believed that Town are open to the departure of Szmodics who still has another two years left on his contract.

It is unlikely Szmodics will command a regular place in Ipswich's first team now they are back in the top flight and the prospect of returning to play for Derby is an appealing one for the attacker.

Derby head coach John Eustace said last season that he was keen for all the loan players to return to the club, with Szmodics among them.

According to the Daily Telegraph, talks are ongoing with both a loan and a permanent deal under discussion.

Derby's business is expected to gather momentum now that the World Cup is over, and last night they completed the signing of Filip Bilbija on a free transfer from German side Paderborn.

Szmodics found his best form under Eustace at Blackburn, where he finished with the golden boot award, which led to his move to Ipswich in 2024.

Speaking about Szmodics in April and asked whether he was keen for him to sign a permanent deal, Eustace said: "Of course it is.

"Sammy's a fantastic human being. He's great in the dressing room.

"He's a top player still. He hasn't scored as many goals as we'd like for sure and he could have had more assists.

"But I think he gets the best out of players such as Bobby Clark, Jaydon Banel, Carlton Morris and Patrick Agyemang. The way he drives his standards every day and the way he performs is key and it's another good Championship player that comes into the squad.

"Even if he's not playing, he'll still help the group. And when we're bringing players in, I know possibly there might have been a few question marks about certain players who should be playing in front of him.

"But over the course of the season and during the Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday week, you need that quality to come through and he's been there and done it.

"He's got the t-shirt and I think we're very fortunate to have a player of that ilk at the football club and I'd love to be able to keep him here going into next season. I know he's going to be even better going into next year."

The transfer window is now open, the signings are being linked and players could be heading for the exit door at Pride Park as it promises to be a pre-season of change at the club.

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