Blackburn Rovers: John Eustace can mastermind Tyrhys Dolan u-turn if trajectory continues

Tyrhys Dolan’s future at Blackburn Rovers seemed to be set in stone, but the club’s exceptional success this season may provide John Eustace with an opportunity to persuade the winger to change his mind.

Blackburn nearly survived last season and are expected to struggle even more this year due to ongoing off-field difficulties and the departure of last season’s Championship top scorer Sammie Szmodics, who scored 27 league goals before joining Ipswich Town.

However, it is fair to say that Eustace’s side has been a true surprise this season, and they have no intention of slowing down.

After a difficult start to the season, Blackburn have won six straight games, defeating shock potential rivals Leeds United and Middlesbrough while losing just once – against 21st-placed Cardiff City.

They won their sixth straight league game on Saturday, defeating Luton Town 2-1 at Ewood Park, moving them up to fifth place and just five points away from automatic promotion.

Few would have imagined promotion contention, let alone automatic promotion contention, but one has to question if Blackburn’s run at the top of the table will lead Dolan to reconsider his tricky contractual situation.

Tyrhys Dolan’s Blackburn Rovers contract situation

The 22-year-old winger, who has been a regular in the Rovers first team for the past five seasons, has generally impressed this season, even if his goals and assists haven’t been enough to compensate for Szmodics’ departure.

He presently has two goals and two assists in 18 games, all but two of which have been starts.

Nonetheless, he is an important player for the team, which is why Eustace is desperate to keep him in Lancashire after his contract expires at the end of the season.

According to the Lancashire Telegraph, Blackburn has been in “protracted discussions” about new terms for over a year, but no agreement has been reached. It is likely that Dolan will evaluate his options in the summer and leave as a free agent.

Blackburn would receive compensation for the forward’s age, albeit it may not be comparable to what the club might negotiate on the transfer market.

While Dolan appears to be no closer to extending his stay, Eustace hasn’t given up hope yet, recently revealing that he’s still seeking to keep his services.

Eustace stated: “I believe it would be a huge boost for the football team.

“Ty is a young player with a lot of experience already. He’s been an excellent servant to the club till now. If we want to expand and grow, we need to keep our best players.

“Ty is up there, in that bracket. It would be a bold move to keep him. I believe the way the entire squad performs and plays demonstrates how important they are to me.

“They are fully committed to the team, as I am to them. I want every player to stay and battle for a spot on the team. Competition for places is essential.

“We want to keep as many players as possible here. I’ve been there for about ten months, and you can see the group’s improvement. They’re improving, and it’s my responsibility to develop the players that are already here while also delivering results.

“I believe that knowing by January would be beneficial to all sides. We, as a group, staff and players, want to improve this football club, and retaining our top players is part of that. We also want to bring in good players to boost those who have already performed well.

“It is critical to spend and compete in the correct areas with a strong squad. I am confident (that I will keep him), yet it is out of my control. I want the boy to stay.

“He’s a terrific guy to work with. We need him to be consistent week after week, but keep in mind that he is 22 years old.

“He’s growing, and long may it continue. There is a lot of talent there, and he is still a young athlete. We have to remember that after losing Sam Szmodics last year, who scored 30 goals, someone has to step up. Ty has sought to take on that role, and he enjoys the responsibility. In the second part of the season, I expect him to score and create more goals.

Blackburn Rovers form could help John Eustace to strike Tyrhys Dolan contract u-turn

Many Rovers fans appear to have accepted that Dolan will leave at the end of the season, but Eustace remains optimistic, and he will no doubt be hoping that the club’s promotion push prompts a rethink.

Blackburn’s current form suggests they can finish in the top six and even challenge for an automatic slot.

The difficulty will be to maintain this level of performance throughout the holiday season and beyond, but if Blackburn can remain in the play-offs at the start of the new year, they must be considered serious contenders.

That may do wonders for their chances of keeping Dolan, which had appeared poor but could be revived by a promotion drive.

Though an undeniable talent, consistency has been a concern, and you can think Dolan would do well to join a new team that is currently in a higher league position than Rovers, which would undoubtedly motivate him to sign on the dotted line.

The carrot-on-a-stick of potential Premier League football next season cannot be overlooked, and that is exactly what Eustace and Blackburn’s key decision makers should be offering in order to keep him at Ewood.

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