Harry Chapman’s Rovers future has been thrown into doubt as the club look to secure an extended stay for the winger.

Rovers announced in their retained that the 23-year-old was in talks over a new deal after an impressive loan spell at Shrewsbury Town.

Tony Mowbray had suggested Rovers had an option in the deal that brought Chapman to Ewood Park in January 2019 that would be triggered to ensure he was under contract until at least 2022.

Rovers activated the 12-month options in the deals of Joe Rankin-Costello, Ryan Nyambe and Joe Rothwell, as talks over extended contracts continue, but the Lancashire Telegraph has learned there was no such option for the club to trigger in the deal of Chapman.

That means that the winger, who has spent the second half of the season on loan with the League One side, could yet leave the club, unless a new deal can be struck before the players return for pre-season.

With Rovers having offered him a deal, should Chapman wish to leave, then any prospective buyer would need to agree a compensation fee with Rovers, due to the former Middlesbrough man being under 24, or see that set by a tribunal.

Shrewsbury Town have already expressed an interest in signing Chapman permanently after starring while on loan, scoring seven goals and contributed three assists in his 23 appearances for the League One side.

Chapman is yet to start a league game for Rovers, but did feature five times as a substitute before leaving on loan in January, while also starting the Carabao Cup win over Doncaster in August.

However, having seen Tyrhys Dolan steal a march on him in the Rovers attacking ranks, Chapman had a five-game spell in the Under-23s, scoring twice and adding three assists.

Mowbray said the plan had been for Chapman to spend time on loan this season, having been on the periphery of things at Ewood Park since returning on a permanent basis in January 2019.

He is yet to make a league start, having made just one in a loan spell in the 2017/18 campaign that was cut short by injury.

The 23-year-old had similar loan spells at Barnsley and Sheffield United, but will be keen to find regular first-team football having had a taste of that during his time with the Shrews.

Chapman played five times for the Under-23s in the first half of the season, contributing two goals and five assists before his January loan switch.