Much has been said about Rovers’ trio of out-of-contract first-team regulars, as well as the manager, but how does the land lie elsewhere?

With Rovers set to take up the option in the deal of top scorer Ben Brereton, there are six first-team players in all whose contracts are due to expire at the end of the season.

Here is a run-down of the likely next moves of the player, and club, and where things stands with the rest of the squad.

 

2022: Ryan Nyambe, Bradley Johnson, Jacob Davenport, Harry Chapman*, Darragh Lenihan, Tyler Magloire

Nyambe – The full back reached 200 appearances for Rovers over the Easter weekend and continues to be a regular in the side, with 31 starts this season. There has been little indication of progress in talks of a new deal, his last one signed in 2019, with the option in that taken up last summer to take him through to 2022. Pastures new look set to await for the 24-year-old, with Rovers not due any compensation because of his age.

Johnson – The experienced central midfielder signed a two-year deal in 2019 when leaving Derby County. That included an option which Johnson activated last season due to the number of starts he had made. His inclusion against Stoke City was his eighth start, to go along with 10 substitute appearances. Now 34, he is the oldest player on Rovers’ books, and another who looks set to move on.

Davenport – Injury problems have been a recurring theme since the midfielder agreed a four-year contract with Rovers. He was the second signing after promotion from League One, but has made only 36 appearances in that time. His two starts this season came in back-to-back November matches, his last appearance of any note also coming in the same month, while injury has ruled him out of the squad of late. Would be hard to envisage an extended stay on the back of his four years at the club, but the 23-year-old has shown glimpses of what he can offer.

Rothwell – Rovers’ first signing after promotion from League One when agreeing a three-year deal upon leaving Oxford United. That included an option in the club’s favour that was taken up last summer. Has now played 39 of Rovers’ 43 matches this season and become a key figure in the side, but his time at the club has appeared to be coming to an end for some time. Rovers turned down significant seven-figure offers from Chicago Fire and Bournemouth in January, and with the latter looking set for promotion to the Premier League, it remains to be seen whether they will come calling again in the summer.

Chapman – Will have been at the club for three-and-a-half years as a permanent player, plus his loan spell in 2017/18, by the end of this campaign but has still managed only one start. Now 24, he is currently on loan at Burton Albion in League One where he has spent much of the season, having made three appearances earlier in the season for Rovers. Starred during his time with Shrewsbury Town in the second half of last season and undoubtedly has the talent to succeed. His contract is understood to include an option, which Rovers will have to consider in the summer, though Chapman will be looking to kick on in his career.

Lenihan – The Rovers captain made appearance number 250 against Stoke City on Monday, but is out of contract this summer. His current deal was signed in the weeks after promotion from League One, a four-year deal, over the course of which Lenihan has established himself as a mainstay of the defence, and one of the most consistent defenders in the division. Rovers haven’t given up hope that there could be a resolution to talks over a new contract, but won’t be without interest should he go on to the market as a free agent. Appears the most likely of those whose deals are up for renewal to stay on.

Magloire – His season is over due to a shoulder injury picked up during his time with Northampton. Made his breakthrough after coming through the Rovers ranks in March 2019, but had to wait until the start of this season for his next Championship action after loan spells with Rochdale, Hartlepool United and Motherwell. Made the move to Northampton in January after four Rovers appearances in the first-half of the campaign. The 23-year-old has interest in Scotland, with the likelihood of being a free agent this summer.

Loanees: Rovers have five players currently on loan, with Ryan Giles (Wolves), Ian Poveda (Leeds United) and Brighton duo Jan Paul van Hecke and Reda Khadra set to return to their parent clubs. Rovers have an agreed, but not mandatory, option on Deyovaisio Zeefuik with Hertha Berlin, although injury has restricted him to just six appearances since signing which has put that in doubt.

Here are when the other members of the Rovers squad see their deals expire, assuming the respective options are taken up:

2023: Daniel Ayala, Dan Butterworth, Ben Brereton

2024: Aynsley Pears, Bradley Dack, Joe Rankin-Costello

2025: Thomas Kaminski, Scott Wharton, Hayden Carter, Harry Pickering, Tayo Edun, John Buckley, Tyrhys Dolan, Sam Gallagher, James Brown

2026: Lewis Travis, Dilan Markanday, Ryan Hedges

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