Tony Mowbray has suggested that Blackburn Rovers are not in a position financially to stop Adam Armstrong moving to the Premier League, which is a boost for Newcastle United and West Ham United.

Armstrong has been in fantastic form this season, scoring 24 goals in 38 Championship games, which has turned heads in the top flight.

Sources informed Football League World earlier this year that both West Ham and Newcastle are keen on the 24-year-old, while his current club would accept under £20 million for him.

With his contract set to expire next summer, Rovers run the risk of losing him for nothing if they opt not to sell in the upcoming window.

Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph, Mowbray admitted that the North West club were not in the strongest negotiating position.

He said: "Adam’s situation is interesting, given how his season has panned out and it’s a wonder what valuation there is on him from other teams.

“If, in his stomach, he wants to go and play in the Premier League and he wants to do it now, we’re not really in a position, financially, to stop that."

The Blackburn boss also urged his star striker to pen a new and suggested doing so would not stop the club accepting a significant offer for him.

He explained: “The only advice I would give, which I’ve already told him, is that, if he was to sign a deal for us, there’d be no negative, because if the right bid comes in, we’ll sell.

"We’re not here to keep anybody against their will or chain you to Ewood Park. If the right bid comes in, you can go. If he knocks on my door, one day, and shows me the offer and he’s keen, I will ask the owners to make that happen.”

Armstrong arrived at Ewood Park in January 2018 on loan from Newcastle before signing permanently in August that year.

He's gone on to score 60 goals and add 19 assists in his 158 appearances since, with the current campaign his largest goal tally yet.

The Verdict

There's no doubt that this is a boost for the clubs chasing Armstrong, including both Newcastle and West Ham.

Mowbray is openly admitting here that Blackburn are not in a strong negotiating position and outlining that they'd have to accept a fair bid if it came in this summer.

The 24-year-old has proved his quality as a goalscorer over the past two seasons and would be deserving of a chance in the Premier League, though you'd understand if there would be questions over his diminutive stature – with so many clubs playing a lone striker.