Sammie Szmodics' 33 goals for Blackburn Rovers will make him a top target for Premier League club's this summer. However, the Championship star has been heaping praise on a former team-mate.
Adam Wharton was at Rovers before Crystal Palace snapped up the midfielder in January, and he's gone on to be one of the surprise stars of the season. So much so, there's even speculation he could make a late run for England's Euro 2024 squad.
Speaking on William Hill and Footy Accumulators’ podcast, No Tippy Tappy Football, Szmodics sang the praises of Wharton and tipped him as a future England international.
He said: “I played with Adam Wharton at Blackburn and he made the move to Crystal Palace, despite the fact that he’s Blackburn through and through and he didn’t want to leave. It comes to a point where you have to leave and he ended up going for £20 million.
“He will go on to be the best player I’ve ever played with – he’s absolutely ridiculous. There are questions about him being in England’s Euros squad this summer and it wouldn’t surprise me if he was. He plays at his own pace, has a lovely left foot and his vision on the turn is brilliant – he’ll play for England going forward.
“To be bought for £20 million at 19 years old is phenomenal for him. Sometimes you go to a Premier League club and it takes some time to really get going, but he’s gone in and played every minute of every game. He’s been Crystal Palace’s best player outside of Michael Olise and Ebere Eze.”
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