Sammie Szmodics is expected to leave Ewood Park during the transfer window, thus Blackburn Rovers will need to find a replacement for him this summer.

Rovers have named Newport County’s Will Evans as a target, according to The Daily Mirror’s Live Transfer Blog (21/06, 12:10).

He has spent the last two seasons playing in League Two, but he is reportedly a target for several Championship clubs.

The soon-to-be 27-year-old began his semi-professional career with Cardiff Metropolitan University in the Cymru Premier League before joining the Exiles in June 2022 on a free transfer from neighbouring Welsh team Bala Town.

If Evans decides to sign with Blackburn, he will have huge shoes to fill because Szmodics, who scored 27 goals in 44 games to win the Championship Golden Boot last season, is anticipated to play Premier League football. However, it is not a decision that will inspire Rovers fans, given their lack of experience in the upper leagues.

A risk in the Championship is Evans.

Despite his age, the 26-year-old has only played in two professional football seasons. Evans is not the replacement the club should be seeking for, especially since Blackburn barely made it through the Championship in 2023–2024.

Despite finishing the previous season with 21 goals in League Two, he had a difficult time adjusting to life at Rodney Parade.

Despite starting in 27 out of his 45 league games, the Welsh striker only managed two goals in his rookie season. Blackburn needs to start strong in order to avoid relegation in the following season, therefore a repeat of this clumsy beginning is not necessary.

Rovers prevailed by three points thanks to Szmodics’ goals in the previous campaign, which translated into a gain of 16 points. The team was held in the second division for a seventh straight season thanks to a brace on the last day of the campaign against Leicester City, who had already won promotion.

Evans may require some time to acclimatise to the jump up from League Two to the Championship and may not be as dependable as Szmodics, who is two years older than him.

Szmodics transfer latest

According to the Lancashire Telegraph, Blackburn has not yet received a formal bid, despite the rumours of interest.According to previous reports from Alan Nixon, Brentford and Everton, two Premier League teams, are interested in signing the Republic of Ireland striker, who is expected to fetch a cost of between £15–20 million.

But manager John Eustace is eager to hang onto his prolific goal scorer, and it is understandable why he wants to see Szmodics leading the line again the next campaign with Evans appearing to be the most likely alternative.

The 28-year-old’s finest season in terms of goals scored was 2023–24, almost twice as much as his best season from 2018–19 with Colchester United, where he scored 14 goals in League Two.

Szmodics may be wise for Blackburn to let go now, before it’s too late, if he can’t replicate his performance from the previous season, regardless of the team he plays for.

An alliance might be the best course of action.

Evans would blend in better with Szmodics given Eustace’s intense desire to hang onto his star player from the previous campaign.

Blackburn will have a huge goal scoring threat if they play with two up top. It might help Evans adjust to the Championship during the season, which might eventually result in Szmodics’ departure.

Evans lacks the experience necessary to be the second tier line leader right now. Having played professionally for only two seasons, he still has time to establish his reputation and develop into the threat Rovers need to be successful in the Championship.

If not, Rovers need to acquire a proven goal scorer from a higher tier; after such a close escape from the previous campaign, this is not the time to let the forwards falter.

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