By Chris Bevan

Ipswich win the race for Parkin Reading snap up striker Lita

It is never easy to make the step up to a higher level but strikers Sam Parkin and Leroy Lita are relishing the challenge.

The pair topped the goalscoring charts in League One last year, and earned big-money moves to the Championship.

Lita joined Reading from Bristol City for £1m, while Ipswich signed Parkin for around £750,000 from Swindon Town.

Parkin and Lita, who were both trainees at Chelsea before making their names at a lower level, tell BBC Sport their hopes for the forthcoming campaign.

Parkin: "I don't imagine the pace of the Championship will be too dissimilar to what I'm used to.

"But the calibre of player will go up a notch and it will be harder to break teams down - things are probably a little bit tighter too.

"It is definitely going to be a step up but it is something that I am looking forward to having a go at.

Lita England debut pleases Taylor

Lita: "There is obviously a massive difference between the Championship and League One.

"But while there are good players and better players in this division, there are also good players in the lower divisions.

"If I score goals in the Championship it gives me a better chance of staying in the England Under-21 squad. I will be playing at a higher standard and hopefully that will help me at international level."

PARKIN FACTFILE Age: 24 Club: Ipswich Joined from: Swindon Record there: Played: 130 (7 sub) Goals: 73

Parkin: "I am an unknown quantity in the Championship so my ambition for the time being is to be a regular starter for Ipswich and hopefully do well.

"The manager and coaching staff all have ambitions to get in the Premiership after coming so close the last couple of years.

"We will just have to wait and see but I will just concentrate on getting in the side and continuing to score goals."

Lita: "I have been given the chance to come here and show what I can do and I'm looking forward to doing that.

"I will work hard, try to keep improving and continue to work on my game - as well as score goals. That's all I'm looking to do.

"I have always got a goals target each season but I keep that to myself every year."

Parkin: "I have definitely joined a club that matches my ambition. When I returned from my break in the summer I was delighted to hear of their interest.

"Off the top of my head if I could have chosen a club in the Championship to go to, Ipswich would have been right up there with anyone. I was delighted that it finally came off.

"The whole place is geared towards playing in the top flight again soon so hopefully we will get there during the course of my contract.

"My partnership with Nicky Forster is going okay. It is early days yet and we're just getting to know each other.

"There is another young player called Dean Bowditch at the club who is very highly thought of and I have been very impressed by him as well.

"So from the three of us there will hopefully be enough goals to put us at the top of the table."

LITA FACTFILE Age: 20 Club: Reading Joined from: Bristol City Record there: Played: 51 (49 sub) Goals: 38

Lita: "Reading want to be in the Premiership and so do I.

"Things are good down here. The club is ambitious and the chairman has big plans and a great ground too.

"We have got a good team here and I'm looking forward to the start of the season.