Nyambe, Rovers entangled in contract talks
Namibian international Ryan Nyambe is one of 11 Blackburn Rovers players whose contract will expire in June 2021 and the young defender is yet to reach a new deal with his English Championship club.
Rovers are however expected to trigger a 12-month option on Nyambe’s contract, Lancs Live understands.
Nyambe is one of 11 players whose current contract expires in the summer, with Rovers conducting negotiations with several in order to preserve their long-term futures.
Bradley Dack was the first of the expiring contract contingent to commit his future to the club after he signed a new two-and-a-half year deal before Christmas, with the option of a further year. Rovers coach Tony Mowbray has cited finances as a hindrance in negotiations but Rovers remain hopeful of successful talks with Nyambe, along with Joe Rothwell and Joe Rankin-Costello, amongst others.
As negotiations draw on, it’s been revealed that Rovers do have the option of a one-year extension in Nyambe’s contract should they fail to come to an agreement on a new deal. While invoking the option would offer no assurances of Nyambe’s long-term outlook, the clause would enable Rovers to avoid any immediate complications and prevent the club from losing a valued asset for free in the summer.
Nyambe has established himself as one of the Championship’s leading full-backs and his development has embodied the progress that the club has made in recent years. He made his 150th appearance for the club in the 2-1 defeat to Huddersfield Town in December and the 23-year-old Namibian has quickly evolved into a secret weapon for Rovers in attack while defensively, there are very few that have got the better of Nyambe in one-on-one situations.
“Nyambe is someone with a lot of growth still left in him,” Mowbray told Lancs Live. “I hope this is the start of a progression to becoming a top full-back. We know he’s got the strength and the power and the one-on-one defending capability, what he has to develop is his final third, his delivery and his ability to get in behind teams and pick the right pass.”