Bradley Dack decision biggest call in Blackburn Rovers retained list

Ben Brereton himself, as well as Jon Dahl Tomasson, confirmed that his double at Millwall on the final day was his last contribution in Rovers colours as his five-year stay came to an end.

It had been expected for some time, as far back as 18 months, if not longer, and Brereton will now begin life in La Liga with Villarreal having signed a bumper four-year deal.

The club must ensure, on the back of losing Ryan Nyambe, Darragh Lenihan and Joe Rothwell on free transfers the summer previous, that Brereton is the last time a hugely valuable asset leaves without any recompense, putting his goals and five-year service to one side.

It leaves the club now having to find a replacement for their top scorer, but unlike when Adam Armstrong left in 2020 and the hope was that Brereton would step up, there doesn’t feel an obvious candidate this time around, particularly given the news that Bradley Dack will too leave at the end of his contract.

Dack’s circumstances are different in that Rovers had the option to extend, but would have had to do so at this current wage.

Equally, they understand that at 29, and on the back of two serious injuries, Dack will want to be a regular next season, wherever he plays his football.

That isn’t something that Rovers could guarantee, and wanted to do right by a player who had given them so much.

It wasn’t a straightforward call, and Gregg Broughton insisted the finances wouldn’t have been an issue had it been felt they could offer Dack the guarantees over playing time he wanted.

It was a decision not made until the days following the final day of the season, so clearly one that required some deliberation.

Another experienced figure, indeed the club’s oldest player, Daniel Ayala left after three years.

This was less of a surprise on the back of 58 appearances across three injury-hit seasons and again as one of the top earners.

That isn’t to say Ayala didn’t contribute when on the pitch, as when involved he was a consistent performer, but sadly those were too infrequent for him to be relied upon.

Dan Butterworth failed to catch the eye of Jon Dahl Tomasson last pre-season and wasn’t part of the first-team plans so allowed to spend the season with Port Vale.

On the back of a regular season of playing senior football, and at 23, it feels the right time for a player with talent to kickstart his career elsewhere.

Also leaving are Under-21s trio Aidan Dowling, Dan Pike and Sam Burns.

For Pike and Burns, at 21 and 20 respectively, now feels the time for both to kick-on having been regulars at Under-21s level without making the first-team breakthrough.

Dowling too found himself beyond Joe Hilton, Jordan Eastham and Felix Goddard in the pecking order, so the right decision for all concerned.

Fitness has played a part in other decisions.

Isaac Whitehall, long-tipped to make the breakthrough, has a had two years to forget, failing to get any game-time, but the 20-year-old has been offered a new deal as  he continues his rehabilitation with the hope a versatile player can reach his full potential.

Equally, attacker Alex Baker has managed just four appearances over the course of the last two seasons but has seen his option triggered.

The same goes for left back Lenni Cirino who has sampled first-team football in pre-season, but the 20-year-old left back made just six appearances last season because of a serious hamstring issue.

Jared Harlock has been a regular for the Under-21s in recent years, and the 20-year-old spent the season training with the first-team, making the bench for two of the cup ties.

The best course of action for the versatile midfielder would be a season out on loan for his longer-term future to be assessed during the course of that.

Two players to be offered new deals are Pat Gamble and Zak Gilsenan.

For Gamble it is deserved reward for a consistent season at Under-21s level.

The 19-year-old has captained Mike Sheron’s side for much of the season, playing 18 of their 26 Premier League 2 games, and is a vocal figure in the backline.

He signed a one-year deal, with an option, when handed his first professional contract in 2022 but is deserving of an extension which should be forthcoming.

Gamble is another that Rovers could look to get out on loan next season.

The same can be said for Zak Gilsenan, the 20-year-old having made a positive return to action after 10 months out with an ACL injury.

The talented attacker, and Australia youth international, is expected to put pen-to-paper on that deal and build on a positive finish to the season, and another who could well attract loan interest.

Of the scholars to be offered deals, right back Leo Duru has been a regular for the Under-21s so no surprises there, while central defender Charlie Olson, midfielder Adam Caddick and attacker Dom Biniek will be hoping to follow suit.

Ben Fyles is currently out having suffered an ACL injury, but did catch the eye of Tomasson with his performances for the Under-21s either side of the New Year and has been offered his first professional deal having had a three-year scholarship deal, rather than the usual two.