Blackburn Rovers make Harry Pickering a contract priority

Discussions over a long-term extension for the 24-year-old have been ongoing since before the end of the season.

Those out of contract in 2024 have been the focus of discussions, with Tyrhys Dolan and Joe Rankin-Costello both in talks with the club.

However, Rovers are equally keen to extend deals for the players out of contract in 2025 who they see part of the long-term plans.

They include Pickering who has played 72 of Rovers’ 92 league matches since the start of last season, and 79 in all, since arriving from Crewe Alexandra in January 2021, and then loaned back to The Alex.

Pickering has since become a consistent performer on the left side of the Rovers defence, a position that had previously been one of much change since promotion from League One.

The player is understood to be happy at Rovers where he has become a regular in the side and it appears that a new deal should be straightforward, despite still having two years left to run on his current contract that he signed when joining in January 2021 for a fee in the region of £650,000.

He made 33 appearances in his debut season at Ewood Park, hampered by a six-week absence at the start of 2022 with a hamstring injury, and then 46 in 2022/23, the third most of any player in the squad.

The one goal he scored, the winner against Sheffield United in March, saw him win the goal of the season prize, making it three in Rovers colours after scoring twice last term.

Pickering is expected to continue as first-choice left back next season, with Rovers likely to consider offers for Tayo Edun who has failed to displace him since his arrival for around £400,000 in the summer of 2021.

Rovers will consider a move for a left back should Edun move on, either permanently or on loan, but the club do have high hopes for teenage prospect Jack Batty.

The 18-year-old made his first-team debut in the Carabao Cup win over Hartlepool United and has trained alongside the senior squad all season, albeit one serious injury lay-off at the end of 2022.

Batty is a player the club have identified as a real talent and will consider his next move closely.

The England youth international is under contract to 2025, the longest deal that was available to the club at the time. However, having turned 18 last month, the club can now look to secure Batty on a longer-term extension.  

Meanwhile, Rovers pair Dominik Biniek and Junior Nsangou have been called up to the Poland squad for the UEFA Under-19s Championships in Malta.

Poland have been drawn in Group A alongside Portugal, Malta and Italy, with the attacking duo to join up with the squad later this month.