SAM Allardyce has warned ‘we need a striker now’ after insisting Blackburn Rovers can’t afford to waste any time in their transfer search.

The Rovers boss has reiterated his desire to bring a goal scorer to Ewood Park this summer but warns the task will only get harder the longer the club wait.

Lens’ Aruna Dindane, Polish striker Robert Lewandowski and Lyon’s Frederic Piquionne have already emerged as Rovers targets but, with rival clubs also interested, he knows there is no time to waste.

Lech Poznan’s Lewandowski appears to be set for Borussia Dortmund, while Wolves and Panathinaikos are the latest clubs to provide competition for the signing of Dindane – leaving Allardyce desperate to seal a deal for someone as soon as possible.

He said: “With regards to finding a striker we have to do it now. There is nothing like the present if the one we want is available.

“If they end up at the World Cup then it suddenly gets much harder.

"Everyone seems to be ready to be shut for business during the World Cup to watch it.

“By the time that has finished, we are back in pre season, and because we don't need many players we need to get it done as quickly as possible.”