Deyovaisio Zeefuik faces an uncertain future – with Rovers to opt against taking up the permanent option in the loan deal that saw him join from Hertha Berlin in January.

Zeefuik only managed six appearances during an injury-hit time with Rovers, with two separate absences seeing him fail to make the squad on 10 occasions.

The 24-year-old didn’t feature on the final day at Birmingham City, despite being available, as Rovers cast their eye to the future as James Brown started at right back.

None of Rovers’ five loanees were involved in the squad that day, and with his Rovers spell having not having worked out as planned, the club aren’t expected to take up the option to make that deal permanent.

Zeefuik is one of 10 players currently plying their trade away from Hertha who are looking to move players on in the summer, and that could become even more pressing should they be relegated this season.

They are in the midst of a relegation battle, and face Hamburg in a two-leg play-off in a bid to stay in Bundesliga, the first of which is tomorrow night.

They are onto their third manager of the season, with the experienced Felix Magath now in charge, as they finished the regular season in 16th spot.

That means they will face Hamburg, third in the second tier of Germany football, over two legs to decide whether there is another promotion spot, or Hertha keep their place for next season.

That adds to the uncertainty of Zeefuik’s future, with the right back still have a year left to run on his contract following a 4m Euros arrival from Eredivisie side Groningen in the summer of 2020. The former Dutch Under-21 international has played 34 times for the club, including 12 in the first half of the season prior to his move to Rovers, and are looking to recoup as much of that fee as possible.

Zeefuik had the opportunity to play for a long-term deal at Rovers, but after an encouraging start, injury disrupted his progress, meaning he struggled to displace Ryan Nyambe.

Uncertainty over Nyambe’s future prompted Rovers to look at a long-term option, and with the Namibian out of contract this summer, Zeefuik had been viewed as a natural successor.

A seven-figure fee had been agreed between the two clubs, but with still the prospect of Nyambe extending his contract at Rovers, something which had looked unlikely even a matter of weeks ago, and the disappointing loan spell of Zeefuik, that isn’t set to be taken up.

Brown, a January arrival from Drogheda United, made his senior debut on the final day after building up his match fitness with Rovers Under-23s, while Joe Rankin-Costello is another who had been earmarked as a long-term successor to Nyambe.

However, injuries have hampered the Academy graduate, restricting him to only 10 appearances, unable to build on his 16 starts last season.

Rovers’ recruitment in that area will again be dictated by Nyambe’s future, with the Namibia international out of contract this summer.

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