Tyrhys Dolan drops big Blackburn Rovers future hint - It's not looking good for Rovers | OneFootball

Dolan is set to become a free agent in the coming weeks.

Blackburn Rovers attacker Tyrhys Dolan has hinted that he is looking for a move elsewhere this summer as his contract runs down.

Dolan's position at Ewood Park has been on tenterhooks for the past two seasons.

There has been ongoing speculation about whether he sees his future being with the Lancashire club, and this summer, with free agency on the horizon, we will find out his plans.

The 23-year-old - who was in the Manchester City academy before being released - flourished in the last campaign. He registered 13 direct goal contributions in Championship games, the most of any player in the Blackburn squad.

His strong performances now have him linked with the likes of Middlesbrough, as per Graeme Bailey. However, it's been locally reported that no official talks between the two parties have been held.

Dolan's decision on his future is expected to come following a holiday and, while staying where he is remains on the board, Rovers isn't his most likely landing spot for the next term, as per the Lancashire Telegraph. Celtic and Rangers have also been linked.

Tyrhys Dolan drops Blackburn Rovers future hint

Dolan has since spoken to The Times about what is ahead of him, and suggested that he is leaving his options open to see if a Premier League club comes calling.

He said: "I’m very grateful to Blackburn. I’ve been through some of the worst as well as the best times in my life while being there.

"The club means so much to me. I made my professional debut for them, and they helped me so much when Jeremy [Wisten, a friend and former Man City teammate of Dolan's] died.

"But it’s a short career, and I’ve always wanted to play at the top level, and at this point I’m a free agent with the belief in myself to perform anywhere."

Tyrhys Dolan may follow in Callum O'Hare's footsteps

The natural next step for any ambitious second division player in this country is to make the step-up to the Premier League.

While some major talents like Dolan's former teammate Adam Wharton have successfully made that leap, it's not as easy a route to go down for free agents.

Last summer, another former top flight academy product, Callum O'Hare, ran down his deal with Coventry City in the hope of landing a move to the Premier League. West Ham United were reportedly interested, but the dream opening never arose, and he ended up going to Sheffield United.

The Blades were by no means a sideways step for O'Hare - they'd just come down from the first division to the Championship - but he ultimately never realised his dream of Premier League football.

He recorded nine direct goal contributions in 13 fewer appearances and 22 fewer starts in the season before moving to Bramall Lane than Dolan did in the 2024/25 campaign.

Therefore, it's hard to see which top flight team will take a chance on the Rovers man with that move.

A top-level Championship move is nothing to sniff at, though.