Rovers have until May 27 to submit their retained list to the EFL.
That will detail which players are under contract for the 2023/24 season and beyond.
With player contracts not expiring to June 30 however, there are cases where talks can still be continuing over the potential extension of terms, such as last season with Ryan Nyambe and Darragh Lenihan.
Joe Rothwell and Bradley Johnson announced their intention to leave the club ahead of the publishing of the retained list last summer, with Ben Brereton and Rovers having done likewise with the 24-year-old.
Rovers have otherwise been proactive with contracts over the course of the season, and it is understood that one first-team player has now agreed terms over a new long-term contract, and talks with at least two more are ongoing.
Elsewhere, Daniel Ayala sees his contract end next month having joined the club in September 2020.
Bradley Dack’s contract is also up for renewal, though Rovers do have the option to extend by 12 months should they wish.
Were that to be activated however, it would be on the terms of his current deal.
It means the decisions over the pair are set to be the main headlines from the retained list.
Dan Butterworth, who has spent the season on loan at Port Vale, is out of contract and set to move on to begin his career away from Ewood Park after 18 appearances.
The 23-year-old had the 12-month option in his deal taken up last summer.
Jordan Eastham did likewise, but has since signed a new two-year deal, as has fellow goalkeeper Joe Hilton who was also set to be out of contract.
Decisions have also been made on a number of the Under-21s squad, which will become public as part of the retained list.
Right back Dan Pike, who finished the season on loan at AFC Fylde, goalkeeper Aidan Dowling, left back Lenni Cirino, attacker Zak Gilsenan and striker Sam Burns are all out of contract.
Midfielder Jared Harlock, who featured for the first-team last pre-season, sees his deal expire, though it does include an option which looks set to be triggered.
Central defender Pat Gamble, a regular captain of the Under-21s side, is contracted to June, though the club do have the option to extend, and would be expected to.
Winger Ben Fyles agreed an extension to his scholarship last summer, and made good strides over the course of the 2023/24 season, only to see it cut short when suffering an ACL injury.
Isaac Whitehall’s injury nightmare continued, having failed to make an appearance for the second successive season, but the club do have an option with the midfielder.
Forward Alex Baker has similarly struggled with injury, with his two-year deal up for renewal.
Also to be included in the retained list are the second-year scholars being offered professional deals.
Ash Phillips and Jake Batty are technically still second-year scholars, despite their emergence on the first-team stage, while midfielders Harley O’Grady-Macken and James Edmondson have since joined them in signing their first professional deals.
O’Grady-Macken travelled with the first-team for the FA Cup tie at Leicester City and has been arguably the breakthrough player of the season for the Under-21s, while Edmondson has also began featuring more regularly for Mike Sheron’s side.
Right back Leo Duru will be considered for a pro deal after featuring regularly for the Under-21s, with decisions also to be made over goalkeeper William Blease, defenders Charlie Olson and Ryan Wilson, midfielder Adam Caddick and attacker Dominik Biniek.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel