Update on Tyrhys Dolan situation at Blackburn Rovers emerges amid Middlesbrough talk
Tyrhys Dolan is open to staying with Blackburn Rovers past the end of his current contract, but he is more likely to leave amid interest from Championship clubs, including Middlesbrough.
The stay or go saga of Dolan has spanned across the last two seasons now. Blackburn may have been in a situation in the previous term where, because of his contract status – he is set to become a free agent this summer – they may have cashed in on him early rather than risking losing him for free.
Deciding to hold onto the 23-year-old may well prove to be the correct decision. He contributed 13 goals and assists this season for Valerien Ismael’s side, who almost snuck into the play-offs on the final day of the season. Now, though, Rovers are faced with the potential reality of losing this top talent and not getting anything in return for him.
Tyrhys Dolan’s future developments emerge
According to The Lancashire Telegraph, Dolan is expected to make a decision on his future after going away on holiday with his family, which will allow him to assess the level of interest there is in him.
Michael Carrick’s Boro are one of the teams that reportedly have the attacking midfielder on their list of summer targets.
However, the aforementioned outlet have stated that no official talks have been held between Dolan’s camp and the Teesside outfit over a move. In fact, Dolan isn’t said to be nearing any agreement on his future.
Football League World have exclusively reported that Carrick is under pressure at the Riverside Stadium and may well be sacked this summer, which could, in turn, affect any deal for Dolan.
Finding a Tyrhys Dolan replacement will be tough, but not impossible
It’s not easy to find players who can offer the decent level of attacking output that the 23-year-old has over the past season, or even two seasons. 12 goals and 10 assists across 24 months isn’t anything to be sniffed at, but it’s certainly replicable.
| Tyrhys Dolan’s Championship stats from 2023/24 & 2024/25 | |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 80 |
| Goals | 12 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 12.2 |
| Assists | 10 |
| Expected assisted goals (xAG) | 8.3 |
| Source: FBRef | |
In Yuki Ohashi, Blackburn have shown that they can scout players who can do a similar job to Dolan, albeit on the other side of the pitch.
They will surely have some form of succession plan in place in case Dolan does depart. If so, they should have faith that they can find someone who can fill his boots.
Middlesbrough lead race to sign “outstanding” Blackburn star on free deal
Middlesbrough missed out on a Championship playoff place this campaign, but could now raid rival top six chasers Blackburn Rovers for one of their star assets if reports are to be believed.
Championship playoff battle ends in despair for Boro and Blackburn
The race for a shot at Premier League promotion is now over in terms of the regular season, and supporters of concerned clubs will now look forward to a heated battle to claim a place in the top-flight. Sheffield United, Sunderland, Coventry City and Bristol City secured a chance to reach the big time and the glamour that comes with it. However, for every success story, there are always hard-luck tales to offer some balance.
Michael Carrick will be feeling a sense of frustration after Middlesbrough missed out by a four-point margin following a run of one victory in their final six fixtures. Ultimately, the club’s decision to cash in on Emmanuel Latte Lath in January may have come back to bite officials at the Riverside Stadium.
The Ivorian striker scored 11 times before moving to Atlanta United, leaving a shortage of goals present in Carrick’s line-up barring Finn Azaz and Tommy Conway.
| Middlesbrough’s unfateful run of results during Championship run-in | |
| Middlesbrough 0-1 Leeds United | |
| Millwall 1-0 Middlesbrough | |
| Middlesbrough 2-1 Plymouth Argyle | |
| Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 Middlesbrough | |
| Middlesbrough 0-0 Norwich City | |
| Coventry City 2-0 Middlesbrough |
Rangers midfielder Tom Lawrence could be an early arrival at Middlesbrough on a free transfer to add an offensive threat from midfield, and the Wales international is likely to be one of a number of targets under Boro’s watch over the coming weeks.
In similar fashion, Carrick’s men are now said to have another bargain deal up their sleeve that may come at the expense of rivals Blackburn.
Middlesbrough in pole position to sign Tyrhys Dolan
According to EFL Analysis, Middlesbrough could sign Tyrhys Dolan on a free transfer from Blackburn, and they are leading the race for his signature as his contract veers closer to expiring at Ewood Park.
Set to become available as a free agent, talks have taken place between his camp and Boro representatives. It has been made clear that he is primed to seek a new challenge away from the Lancashire outfit.
Labelled “outstanding” by John Eustace, Dolan has registered seven goals and six assists across 47 appearances in all competitions this season, playing a major role in Rovers’ own close shave with earning a playoff place. Despite competition from a number of sides, Boro are at the front of the queue and are taking a proactive approach to atone for missing out on a shot at promotion to the top-flight.
Completing an average of 1.3 dribbles per match on Championship duty, Dolan has emerged as a rising talent and reportedly fits the bill as Middlesbrough seek depth to put the building blocks in place for a better season next time out.
Crossing paths to join another club in the same league may sour relations with his current employers, but it would also be a mark of Carrick’s ambition heading into pre-season.
