Football League World
·26 de diciembre de 2024
Football League World
·26 de diciembre de 2024
FLW takes a look at the nine Blackburn men who are out of contract in the summer.
Nine of Blackburn Rovers’ first-team squad are set to leave when their contracts expire at the end of the season, including Andreas Weimann, Ryan Hedges and Tyrhys Dolan, unless something is done.
Rovers have enjoyed a significant improvement in the Championship this season, after finishing 19th last term. However, several of John Eustace’s first-team squad will depart Ewood Park in 2025 if their contract situations are not addressed by the club.
With no less than nine players out of contract in the summer and several of them key players, Eustace could have a rebuild on his hands next season if they were all to leave.
With a play-off push potentially on the cards, Blackburn will be keen to tie down some of those nine to ensure their season isn’t derailed by uncertainty over the features of some of the key players.
14 years on from his Premier League debut for Aston Villa, Andreas Weimann is still going strong.
The 26-cap Austrian international is very much a seasoned veteran of the Championship these days, having made over 350 appearances in the second tier for Bristol City, Derby, Wolves, and many more.
The forward has over 70 Championship goals to his name and is already scoring valuable goals for Blackburn, including a stunner in their local derby with Burnley back in September.
Now 33, it’s clear Weimann still has a lot to give at this level, Blackburn must tie him down to a new contract as soon as possible, or it’s almost certain he will have plenty of Championship suitors next summer.
Now into his first season with Blackburn, Hyam has become a regular in their backline.
After his debut season saw him win Blackburn's Player of the Year award in 2022/23, Hyam has kicked on to become a staple of their defence.
The former Coventry City man earned a first cap for the senior Scottish side earlier in the year and could be in line for more in 2025 if his impressive form continues.
Hyam, 29, is in his prime years and in his sixth consecutive season of Championship football. Eustace will certainly be keen to have him around for longer than just the next six months.
Recent news that Blackburn are in talks to extend Hedges’ stay at Ewood Park (according to the Lancashire Telegraph) can only be good news.
The 29-year-old winger has become a firm favourite since his move from Aberdeen back in 2022. Continuous hamstring problems kept Hedges on the sidelines for much of last season, and he only featured 17 times in the league. He's stayed injury free so far in 2024/25 though, and remains a genuine creative force.
Suggestions are that Hedges’ potential new contract could run until 2027, a deal that everyone at Blackburn will hope to see get over the line as quickly as possible.
Dolan has excelled over the last five years at Blackburn, notching seven or more goal contributions in the Championship in each of his last three seasons.
The attacking midfielder has impressed again this term for Eustace's side, but is currently locked in a contract stalemate with the club.
According to the Lancashire Telegraph, Blackburn have been in discussions with Dolan over a new deal for over a year.
With still no conclusion reached, Rovers may opt to cut their losses and move the 22-year-old attacker on in January, to avoid losing him for free. However, if there’s any chance whatsoever of a new contract being agreed, Eustace will want to keep him around as he is key to Blackburn’s promotion hopes.
Batth has become a firm fixture of the Championship, having featured in each of its last 11 seasons, across spells with Blackburn, Norwich, Sunderland, Stoke, Middlesbrough and Wolves.
You would imagine retirement will be creeping into view for Batth, but he’s still been the regular partner for Hyam this term.
His future could well hinge on how the remainder of the season plays out for Eustace’s side. Secure a Premier League return for the first time in 12 years, and it will surely be a step too far for the 34-year-old. However, remain in the Championship, and Batth could well have one more year left in him.
Sigurdsson’s Blackburn career has petered out a little after a promising start saw him score five league goals in 29 games last term.
The Icelandic winger's progress has been hampered badly in this calendar year, with injuries and illness limiting him to fairly sporadic appearances.
There is obviously a talented player there, but given that injury record, it would be a gamble to offer new terms to the 25-year-old. But on the other hand, there would perhaps be regrets if he was to move on, given that Blackburn haven’t really seen the best of him yet.
This one you would imagine is fairly straightforward. McFadzean has been a fantastic servant to countless Football League clubs over the years, but surely retirement is on the horizon in the near future.
The 37-year-old has hardly featured for Blackburn this season, having made just 13 appearances in all competitions last term.
He’s been an integral part of special rises through the divisions at both Coventry and Crawley, but you would imagine McFadzean’s career will be drawing to a close fairly shortly.
Hilton has featured predominantly for Blackburn's academy sides since joining as a youngster from Everton back in 2019.
The 25-year-old ‘keeper spent the latter part of the 2023/24 season on loan at Macclesfield in the seventh tier, having previously had spells with Hamilton Academical and Fleetwood.
Barrett, on the other hand, may have more of a future. The young ‘keeper also joined from Everton after a successful trial period last summer.
He spent time on loan in Canada towards the end of his time at Goodison Park.
Although neither have threatened first-choice goalkeeper Aynsley Pears, Barrett does at least have more time on his hands to develop than Hilton, who will surely be shown the door.