Blackburn Rovers: Pundit makes Ohashi claim amid Sammie Szmodics, Ipswich Town move | OneFootball

Sam Parkin has given his reaction to Sammie Szmodics' move from Blackburn Rovers to Ipswich Town.

Pundit Sam Parkin believes new Blackburn Rovers striker Yuki Ohashi can replace the goals of Sammie Szmodics following his move to Ipswich Town.

Szmodics enjoyed an outstanding campaign last season as he finished as the top scorer in the Championship, and his goals were crucial in keeping Blackburn in the division.

The 28-year-old began the new season at Ewood Park, and his fine form continued in the opening two games as he scored three goals and provided two assists, but he left the club to join newly-promoted Premier League side Ipswich Town last week for a fee of £9 million.

Many feared that Szmodics' departure could result in another relegation battle for Rovers this season, but manager John Eustace has brought in three new strikers this summer in Andreas Weimann, Makhtar Gueye and Yuki Ohashi, and all three have impressed since their arrivals in Lancashire.

Ohashi has scored three goals in his first three games for Blackburn, while Weimann has netted twice and Gueye has found the back of the net once, and there could be further attacking reinforcements to come before the end of the window, with Fulham striker Jay Stansfield said to be on the club's radar.

Sam Parkin delivers reassuring Blackburn Rovers message

Parkin has been encouraged by the performances of Blackburn's new strikers in the early stages of the season, and he believes Ohashi in particular could be capable of replacing Szmodics' goals.

"Blackburn have obviously really impressed," Parkin said on the What The EFL?! podcast.

"The players they've brought in are all experienced and ready to go in and hit the ground running as Ohashi in particular has done.

"I think he scored a few goals consistently towards the tail end of last season, so he's full of form and he's gone into a new club and scored three in three.

"That's a striker who's going to get you goals immediately, as will the other replacements who they got in situ before the sale was confirmed. "As for Szmodics, given that he played a variety of positions and scored goals last season, he's a really good addition for Ipswich. "He scored goals off the left hand side, and he came on there the other day. "That left hand side for Ipswich is essentially a number 10, so he'll get in front of goal, he'll get chances and I'm sure he'll play as a number nine when Delap and Hirst aren't around. "Kieran McKenna likes that physical one, he likes to have someone up there that they can hit a little bit earlier and someone who can stretch the game, but Szmodics will bring something in any position across that front line.

"As for Blackburn, it's really exciting, you wouldn't have anticipated them starting the season so free scoring, let's see if they can continue without the main man."

There is no doubt that it was a big blow for Blackburn to lose Szmodics, but the strong early season form of the club's new strikers should be reassuring for supporters.

As Parkin says, Ohashi has been outstanding since his arrival from Sanfrecce Hiroshima, and he looks likely to be Rovers' main man this season, but Weimann and Gueye have also looked a threat.

Blackburn's attacking options could improve further if they were to get a deal over the line for Stansfield, who scored 13 goals during his loan spell at Birmingham City in the Championship last season, but the ambitious Blues are keen to sign him permanently for £6 million despite their relegation to League One, while Hull City, Cardiff City and Stoke City are also said to be interested.

There are big question marks over whether Rovers could meet Stansfield's valuation, but Eustace signed the 21-year-old for Birmingham last summer, and the relationship between the pair could be a big factor in convincing him to make the move to Ewood Park.